Canadian PM Justin Trudeau sparks controversy over remarks on singer Diljit Dosanjh
Trudeau's statement gave rise to a controversy due to the emphasis on Dosanjh’s Punjab identity rather than acknowledging him as an Indian singer.
Justin Trudeau has once again taken the spotlight for his remarks. The Canadian Prime Minister drew criticism from Indian leaders including those from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) due to his recent comments after meeting singer Diljit Dosanjh on Sunday, July 14.
Trudeau shared a photo on his social media handle on X, which was captioned, “Stopped by the Rogers Centre to wish Diljit Dosanjh good luck before his show.” He continued, praising Canada as a place where “a guy from Punjab can make history and sell out stadiums,” and added, “Diversity isn’t just our strength. It’s a superpower.”
This statement gave rise to controversy due to Trudeau’s emphasis on Dosanjh’s Punjab identity rather than acknowledging him as an Indian singer. Critics say this aligns with Trudeau’s stance on Khalistani separatists in Canada.
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa corrected Trudeau by posting, “Mr. Prime Minister – where one guy from INDIA can make history and sell out stadiums.” He further accused Trudeau of overshadowing his commendation of Dosanjh with deliberate wordplay, calling it “mischief.”
Several social media influencers related with Sirsa’s sentiments, expressing their objections to Trudeau’s remarks. Despite the controversy, Dosanjh responded by thanking the Canadian Prime Minister, saying, “It was an honour to have you.”
In a subsequent post, Dosanjh supported Trudeau’s comments on diversity, stating, “Diversity is Canada’s strength. PM Trudeau came out to check out the history in making: we sold out the Rogers Centre!”
Trudeau’s comments under the condition of strained relations between Canada and India, due to his leniency towards Khalistani terrorists based in Canada. The issue intensified following Trudeau’s remarks on the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani leader, which India has repeatedly raised concerns about.
Trudeau’s not taking any action against Khalistani extremists has been a longstanding point of disagreement between the two countries. The latest incident has further added to the tension, with Indian leaders perceiving Trudeau’s remarks as a slight against India’s territorial integrity and unity.
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