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Indian-origin lawyer, Jagmeet Singh, elected first non-white leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party

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8 years ago

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Jagmeet Singh

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The 38-year-old Ontario lawmaker will lead NDP’s 2019 federal election campaign against the vastly popular Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Jagmeet Singh, a 38-year-old lawyer and practising Sikh, was elected on Sunday to lead Canada’s left-leaning New Democrats, becoming the first non-white politician to head a major political party there.

The Ontario provincial lawmaker, whose penchant for colorful turbans and tailor-made three-piece suits made him a social media star, was elected on the first ballot to lead the New Democratic Party (NDP) into the 2019 federal election against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals.

“Thank you, New Democrats. The run for prime minister begins now,” Singh tweeted.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]With his election as leader of the NDP – the third largest political outfit in the Canada’s federal parliament – Singh also announced that he was now firmly in the running for the post of the country’s Prime Minister. This would now pit him against the vastly popular 45-year-old Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party in the 2019 elections[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html]JTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJlbiUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRVRoYXQlRTIlODAlOTlzJTIwd2h5JTIwdG9kYXklMkMlMjBJJUUyJTgwJTk5bSUyMG9mZmljaWFsbHklMjBsYXVuY2hpbmclMjBteSUyMGNhbXBhaWduJTIwdG8lMjBiZSUyMHRoZSUyMG5leHQlMjBQcmltZSUyME1pbmlzdGVyJTIwb2YlMjBDYW5hZGEuJTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGaGFzaHRhZyUyRkxvdmVBbmRDb3VyYWdlJTNGc3JjJTNEaGFzaCUyNmFtcCUzQnJlZl9zcmMlM0R0d3NyYyUyNTVFdGZ3JTIyJTNFJTIzTG92ZUFuZENvdXJhZ2UlM0MlMkZhJTNFJTNDJTJGcCUzRSUyNm1kYXNoJTNCJTIwSmFnbWVldCUyMFNpbmdoJTIwJTI4JTQwdGhlSmFnbWVldFNpbmdoJTI5JTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGdGhlSmFnbWVldFNpbmdoJTJGc3RhdHVzJTJGOTE0NjA0MDU0MDAwNjUyMjg4JTNGcmVmX3NyYyUzRHR3c3JjJTI1NUV0ZnclMjIlM0VPY3RvYmVyJTIwMSUyQyUyMDIwMTclM0MlMkZhJTNFJTNDJTJGYmxvY2txdW90ZSUzRSUwQSUzQ3NjcmlwdCUyMGFzeW5jJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyJTJGJTJGcGxhdGZvcm0udHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZ3aWRnZXRzLmpzJTIyJTIwY2hhcnNldCUzRCUyMnV0Zi04JTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGc2NyaXB0JTNF[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Singh secured 54 per cent of the vote, defeating three rivals to become the new head of the NDP, succeeding Thomas Mulcair. The results of the vote – conducted online and by mail – were announced at a party meeting in Toronto.

Trudeau congratulated his new political rival on Twitter soon after the results of the NDP leadership poll was announced.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Singh, a Toronto-area politician led in his fundraising attempts since joining the NDP leadership race in May. He had been hailed by his supporters as someone who could bring new life to the party, which has struggled since the death of charismatic former leader Jack Layton in 2011 and currently has only 44 of the Canadian Parliament’s 338 seats.

Singh’s profile was boosted in early September after a video went viral showing him calmly responding with words of love to a heckler who interrupted a campaign event to accuse him of wanting to impose Shariah law in Canada.

Christopher Cochrane, a professor of political science at the University of Toronto, said: “His skill, in being able to defuse the situation, understandably appealed to a lot of people who ended up supporting him.”

Cochrane added that Singh’s ability to connect both with young people and those in ethnic minorities would make him a “force to reckon with” when competing against Trudeau in 2019.

Singh’s political task is now cut out for him. His party lags far behind Trudeau’s Liberals and the right-leaning Conservatives in political fundraising. As NDP leader, Singh will now have to focus on rallying supporters and targeting center-left voters who helped propel Trudeau’s Liberals to a decisive victory in 2015.

Singh does not have a seat in the federal parliament and, as per Canadian electoral rules, will have to win one in a special election. He also needs to persuade voters that his party can form a government, although the NDP has never held power federally. There are also questions over whether he will have success in Quebec, Canada’s mainly French-speaking province, where overt signs of faith are frowned upon and Singh is not just a non-white but with his turban also proudly flaunts his Sikh roots.

(With inputs from The Guardian)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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US urges calm after Pahalgam attack, seeks Pakistan’s cooperation in probe

In the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, the United States has called on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, urging both nations to avoid escalation and focus on cooperation against terrorism.

Published

13 hours ago

on

May 1, 2025

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Amid heightened tensions in South Asia following the devastating terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region that killed 26 civilians, the United States has urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made separate calls to Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, emphasizing the need for cooperation and regional stability.

US calls for collaborative counter-terrorism approach

Rubio expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the Pahalgam attack, labeling it as “unconscionable,” and conveyed his solidarity with India. During his conversation with Jaishankar, he reiterated Washington’s commitment to combat terrorism in partnership with New Delhi. However, he also urged India to proceed with caution, especially in light of the accusation that Pakistan-backed elements were responsible for the attack.

Jaishankar, after the call, took to social media platform X, affirming that those behind the attack—whether perpetrators, planners, or backers—must face justice.

In his dialogue with Prime Minister Sharif, the US Secretary of State asked Pakistan to publicly condemn the April 22 attack and to cooperate fully with the investigation. He urged the resumption of direct communications between the two nations to prevent further deterioration of ties.

India-Pakistan ties sour post-attack

The terror outfit The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam assault. India has firmly blamed Pakistan, prompting swift diplomatic and administrative actions, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and revocation of Pakistani visas. The Wagah-Attari border has also been sealed.

In response, Islamabad has denied involvement and called for a neutral investigation. It also retaliated by closing its airspace to Indian carriers and engaging in border shelling. Pakistan’s defence ministry has warned of an impending Indian military operation, escalating fears of direct conflict.

Strategic ties influence US stance

While the US has expressed open support for India, including condemnations from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, it has refrained from criticising Pakistan directly. Experts note that India remains crucial to US Indo-Pacific strategy amid growing concerns over China, even as Pakistan’s relevance has declined post the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

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PM Modi won’t attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, confirms Kremlin

Instead, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at the commemorative events marking the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

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1 day ago

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April 30, 2025

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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced on Wednesday, April 30, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the 80th anniversary celebrations of Victory Day in Moscow next month.

Instead, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at the commemorative events marking the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

“India will be represented by Defence Minister Singh, not at the highest level,” Peskov stated, confirming that India had informed Russia of the decision well in advance. A source elaborated, “An invitation was extended to Prime Minister Modi for the Victory Day Parade in Moscow, but we conveyed that Minister Singh would attend on India’s behalf.”

Modi, who visited Russia twice in 2024 for an annual summit with President Vladimir Putin and the BRICS Summit in Kazan, is not expected to travel for the May 9 event. Meanwhile, Putin is slated to visit India later this year for the annual India-Russia summit, maintaining the tradition of high-level bilateral engagements.

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Russia has also declared a ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8 to 10 to observe Victory Day, a gesture underscoring the event’s importance. The Victory Day celebrations, a major national event, commemorate the Soviet Union’s pivotal role in defeating Nazi Germany, culminating in the surrender on May 9, 1945.

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Mark Carney’s win sparks hope for India-Canada relations reset

Mark Carney’s rise as Canada’s Prime Minister brings a renewed focus on repairing ties with India, as both countries seek cooperation in trade, education, and diplomacy.

Published

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Mark Carney’s ascension to the role of Canada’s Prime Minister has brought renewed optimism for a diplomatic thaw between New Delhi and Ottawa, a relationship that faced serious setbacks under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Carney, a former central banker and political novice, made it clear during his campaign that rebuilding bilateral ties with India would be among his foreign policy priorities.

Carney signals intent to revive ties

In his pre-election statements, Carney emphasised Canada’s need to diversify trade partnerships with nations that share democratic values—explicitly naming India. He said, “There are opportunities to rebuild the relationship with India. If I am Prime Minister, I look forward to the opportunity to build that.”

This approach marks a significant departure from the Trudeau administration’s strained relations with India, especially following the high-profile controversy in 2023 involving the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The diplomatic crisis escalated with the expulsion of six Indian diplomats and reciprocal steps from India, effectively freezing high-level exchanges and trade talks.

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Under Trudeau, India frequently accused Canada of harbouring extremist elements within its Sikh diaspora. The Indian government viewed this as a threat to its sovereignty, particularly amid rising incidents of pro-Khalistan demonstrations abroad.

Mark Carney, however, has taken a more pragmatic view, underlining the importance of restoring diplomatic balance and mutual respect. His vision of Canadian sovereignty also extends to redefining international alliances, with a push toward reducing dependency on its largest neighbour—the United States—and strengthening partnerships like the one with India.

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The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two nations, stalled due to the diplomatic fallout, may see a revival under Carney’s leadership. In 2023, services trade between India and Canada was valued at CAD 13.49 billion. Both countries had been exploring collaboration in emerging sectors like AI, green energy, and education.

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A cautious but hopeful turn

Carney’s victory offers both countries a diplomatic opportunity to reset a troubled chapter. With mutual interests in economic growth, technological advancement, and geopolitical balance, the groundwork is being laid for a more collaborative future.

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