Canada: 'Kingmaker' Jagmeet Singh was denied Indian Visa in 2013

Canadian Human rights lawyer and the first non-white politician to contest in the Canadian general elections, Jagmeet Singh, was reportedly denied a Visa by India in 2013 to travel to Amritsar, Punjab. Jagmeet Singh was to attend a function being organised by two NGOs - SEWA and International Fateh Academy, who had selected him for the "Sikh of the Year" award. According to reports, he received an email from the Indian consulate denying him permission to travel to India.

"Indian government is upset with me"

While speaking to an international media outlet, Singh stated that the Indian government was apparently upset with him as he had voiced his opinion in support of the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. In addition to this, Jagmeet opined the massacre was not an issue of communal violence between the two communities, instead, it was a State-sponsored attack on the Sikh community.

The 'kingmaker'

A member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) from Bramalea Gore Malton constituency of Ontario and New Democratic Party chief, Singh was one four Sikh Ministers appointed in the Canadian government in the year 2015. He is considered to have played a significant role in the formation of the Canadian government as the Liberals failed to gather a majority and Justin Trudeau is expected to ask for Jagmeet's support.

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Even though his party witnessed a decline from 39 seats to 24 in 2019, it was still at the third position when the election results were announced. Reportedly, he has a significant influence on the policy-making of the newly elected government, if he plays the King Maker. A kingmaker can be a group or an individual who has a great political influence without them being at the forefront in a political structure.

At the time of the poll campaign, the human rights lawyer saw an increase in popularity on a personal front. He was recognised for his oratory skills and was lauded for handling any racist and untoward remarks against him maturely.

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Lauded for this way of speaking

The racial abuse incident occurred when the NDP leader was in Montreal and was in the open-air market when he approached a man and greeted him. The man told Singh to cut off his Turban in order to look like a Canadian. In his response, Jagmeet reportedly told the man that there are all sorts of people living in Canada and that is the beauty of it. 

The man shot back at Singh and stated that "In Rome, you do as the Romans do" to which the politician replied that they were in Canada and people had the freedom to do whatever they wanted to.

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(With inputs from agencies)