Capt Amarinder Singh denied permission to address Canadian diaspora, terms it "gag order" in letter to Trudeau

By A Representative
In a surprise development, senior Congress leader from Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, who also happens to be deputy leader of the Congress' parliamentary party, has been denied permission to address Punjabi diaspora in two Canadian cities -- Toronto and Vancouver. Singh says he was informed about this by India's foreign secretary Dr S Jaishankar.
Calling it a “gag order”, Singh has said in his letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, "Your government has invoked the provisions of some Global Affairs Canada (GAC) policy that forbids foreign governments to conduct election campaigns in Canada or establish foreign political parties and movements in Canada".
Ahead of the denial to allow him the interaction, the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) reportedly tried to block Singh.
A Toronto-based law firm, on behalf of the SFJ, sent a memorandum to foreign minister Stephane Dion, claiming Singh’s visit would "violate" a 2011 circular which did not allow foreign governments to conduct election campaigns in Canada or establish foreign political parties or movements in Canada.
"I was scheduled to interact with the Punjabi diaspora living in the two cities”, Singh says, adding, "Needless to say, it has come as a disappointment that someone representing the largest democracy in the world has been refused to reach out to, and interact with, his fellow Punjabis living in a respected democracy like Canada."
Saying that the "gag order” has left “a very bad taste, more so when issued by a democratic government like the Canadian", Singh says it is "surprising and ironical” that the refusal to allow him public interaction has come barely after few weeks of Trudeau's personal regret over the Komagata Maru tragedy (click HERE to read).
Claiming he had “no intention” to carry election campaign, “as there are no elections right now in Punjab”, Singh says, he does not have "any plans to set up any political party or movement in Canada".
Insisting that India "has already given" all such freedoms in letter and spirit”, and "we really don't need to carry out any such activities anywhere outside", Singh says, "Our country extends such freedoms to others as well and we don't restrict it to our citizens alone as we believe that the freedom of expression is a universal right and should be respected by, and guaranteed to, one and all."
Pointing out that he had planned to visit Canada to "interact with fellow Punjabis at personal level to learn about their experiences and seek their opinions", Singh says, "They, being the citizens of Canada, do not have any voting rights in India."
"Hence", he adds, "there is no point in carrying out election campaign amongst them, and that too when there are no elections scheduled in Punjab right now or in immediate future."
The letter reminds the Canadian Prime Minister that he had visited Canada in 2005 when he was the Chief Minister of Punjab and "addressed gatherings at Vancouver and Toronto, which were attended by the local premiers also."
He further reminds Trudeau that during the last one year, several political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some opposition leaders visited Canada and they addressed public functions and nobody objected, Singh says, "I am surprised as why I have been singed out for this honour of being denied a similar permission."
Insisting that the Canadian constitution under Section 2 guarantees fundamental freedoms which also include, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, Singh tells Trudeau that the Canadian government's "gag order undermines these fundamental freedoms".

Comments

Nepal votes amid regional rivalry: Why New Delhi is watching closely

By Nava Thakuria* As Nepal holds an early national election on Thursday (5 March 2026), the people of northeast India, along with other regional observers, are watching the proceedings closely. The vote was necessitated after the government of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli collapsed in September 2025 following widespread anti-government protests. The election will determine the composition of the 275-member House of Representatives, originally scheduled for 2027, under the stewardship of an interim government led by former Supreme Court justice Sushila Karki.

'Policy long overdue': Coalition of 29 experts tells JP Nadda to act on SC warning label order

By A Representative In a significant development for public health, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to seriously consider implementing mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on pre-packaged food products. The order, passed by a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan on February 10, 2026, comes as the Court expressed dissatisfaction with the regulatory body's progress on the issue.

Academics urge Azim Premji University to drop FIR against Student Reading Circle

By A Representative A group of academics and civil society members has issued an open letter to the leadership of Azim Premji University expressing concern over the filing of a police complaint that led to an FIR against a student-run reading circle following a recent incident of violence on campus. The signatories state that they hold the university in high regard for its commitment to constitutional values, critical inquiry and ethical public engagement, and argue that it is precisely because of this reputation that the present development is troubling.

Vaccination vs screening: Policy questions raised on cervical cancer strategy

By A Representative A public policy expert has written to Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda raising a series of concerns regarding the national Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign launched on February 28 for 14-year-old girls.

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

Development vs community: New coal politics and old conflicts in Madhya Pradesh

By Deepmala Patel* The Singrauli region of Madhya Pradesh, often described as “India’s energy capital,” has for decades been a hub of coal mining and thermal power generation. Today, the Dhirouli coal mine project in this district has triggered widespread protests among local communities. In recent years, the project has generated intense controversy, public opposition, and significant legal and social questions. This is not merely a dispute over one mine; it raises a larger question—who pays the price for energy development? Large corporate beneficiaries or the survival of local communities?

The new anti-national certificate: If Arundhati Roy is the benchmark, count me in

By Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava* Dear MANIT Alumni Network Committee, “Are you anti-national?” I encountered this fascinating—some may say intimidating—question from an elderly woman I barely know, an alumna of Maulana Azad College of Technology (MACT, now Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology - MANIT), Bhopal, and apparently one of the founders of the MACT (now MANIT) Alumni Network. The authority with which she posed the question was striking. “How much anti-national are you? What have you done for the Alumni Network Committee to identify you as anti-national?” When I asked what “anti-national” meant to her and who was busy certifying me as such, the response came in counter-questions.

Minority concerns mount: RTI reveals govt funded Delhi religious meet in December

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* Indian Muslims have expressed deep concern over what they describe as rising hate speech and hostility against their community under the BJP-led government in India. A recent flashpoint was the event organised by Sanatan Sanstha titled “Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav” in New Delhi on 13–14 December 2025.

From neglect to progress: The story of Ranavara’s community-led development

By Bharat Dogra Visitors to Ranavara, a remote village in Kherwara block of Udaipur district, are often surprised by its multi-dimensional progress. The village today is known for its impressive school building, regenerated pastures, expanded tree cover, and extensive water conservation and supply works. These achievements are the outcome of sustained community efforts over several years, demonstrating how small, consistent initiatives can lead to significant change.

Search This Blog