He added, “Political events should collectively urge media homes to cease anti-Sikh vilification.

We enchantment to all our countrymen to not be misled by the anti-Punjab and anti-Sikh propaganda. Our structure declares India to be a Union of States, with ‘unity in diversity’ as its foundational precept. Let’s respect that.”

Akali spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema stated Trudeau ought to have raised the problem at a diplomatic stage with India as an alternative of elevating it in Parliament with none concrete proof. “Raising such an issue in the Canadian parliament without presenting any concrete evidence is tantamount to tarnishing the image of a friendly nation. Raising such an issue without any concrete evidence puts a question mark on the reputation of other countries,” he stated.

On Thursday, hours after the Ministry of External Affairs introduced that it was suspending visa providers for Canadians, Badal met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He appealed to him to take essential steps to make sure “a quick resolution” of the dispute with Canada, saying “Punjabis were in a state of panic due to deteriorating relations between the two countries”. The Akali chief stated he had made an analogous enchantment to the Canadian authorities.

Sikhs, the core constituency

The Sikh neighborhood has been the core constituency of the Akali Dal however over the previous two elections — in 2017 and 2022 — it has drifted away, pushing the over hundred-year-old get together to the fringes of Punjab politics. The get together at current has solely three Assembly seats, its lowest ever, and its vote share has additionally dropped from 25.2% in 2017 to round 18.38% at current.

Even because the BJP and the Congress made sturdy statements condemning Trudeau for making allegations, labelling the Canadian PM as “highly irresponsible”, the Akali Dal initially stated the allegations have been a “cause of serious concern” that have to be “taken seriously” and Prime Minister Narendra Modi ought to “present all the facts before the nation”. In an official assertion on Tuesday, it stated, “The recent statement of the Canadian Prime Minister is a cause of serious concern. The Shiromani Akali Dal urges both the governments of Canada and India to settle the matter not with a confrontationist but with a statesman-like approach.”

Cheema was additionally quoted as saying, “We are the largest democracy and such accusation against us is a very serious thing. Our PM should present facts before the nation. A large number of Indians have settled in Canada for a long time and have business and other ties back home. Hope PM will present all the facts before the nation.”

This led Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira to hit out on the Akalis and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday morning. He posted on X, “I’m appalled at the cunning & stoic silence of @BhagwantMann and @officeofssbadal over the sensational allegations of @JustinTrudeau Pm Canada and his standoff with Indian Government affecting the future of 8 Lac Punjabis living in Canada apart from the vilification campaign launched against Sikhs of Punjab by hate mongers. Normally @BhagwantMann has been daily tweeting about frivolous issues but hasn’t uttered a word being the torch bearer of 3 Cr Punjabis?”

In response, the Akali Dal stated, “Dear @SukhpalKhaira pls open your eyes and read these news items attached below. It seems you tweet for the sake of tweeting only without being aware of the ground situation. Shiromani Akali Dal president S #SukhbirSinghBadal has not only expressed concern over the current impasse between India and Canada, but also met Union Home Minister Mr Amit Shah and urged him to ensure the matter is settled at the earliest keeping in view the interests of the Punjabi diaspora.”

Khaira’s get together colleague and former Punjab Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa stated the Akali Dal was making an attempt to “polarise Sikh votes by not speaking against Trudeau’s remarks”. Punjab BJP core committee member Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi stated that Akalis needed to “clear their stand”.

AAP spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang stated, “This is not a state-level issue. The Prime Ministers of both the countries should resolve the issue as soon as possible since a large number of people living in these two countries, especially hailing from Punjab, have very deep relations with each other.”