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Is Carney's Canada making Trudeau's political mistake about Khalistanis?
Canada seems to reignite its row with India as it once again promotes pro-Khalistani voices within the country. The Khalistani issue between India-Canada ties was brought up again after pro-Khalistani Punjabi Singer Jazzy B was invited to the British Columbia (BC) Assembly. The appearance of the singer stirred headlines after Independent MLA of the BC Assembly, Dallas Brodie, posted a video featuring British Columbia Conservative MLA Steve Kooner expressing his love for Jazzy B.
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The singer's real name is Jaswinder Singh Bains, and his invitation to the assembly was seen as Canada's tendency to support Khalistani sympathisers due to vote bank politics. This issue was at the centre of the deteriorating ties between India and Pakistan during former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's time in office.
Today several prominent pro-Kalistani figures were welcomed in the BC Legislature by MLAs of both the BC Conservatives and NDP. Some of those individuals have openly celebrated violent extremists and murderers in their music videos.
This is an insult to our Legislature. https://t.co/4DMiOjG2jM — Dallas Brodie (@Dallas_Brodie) May 27, 2025
The ties remain downgraded , with currently no high commissioners at the respective missions. The latest event at the British Columbia assembly reportedly did not go well with India. Sources close to the matter told The Economic Times that the visit and its follow-up are currently being monitored by New Delhi.
The pro-Khalistani singer celebrated in Canada
In the video, the Conservative politician heaped praise on the controversial singer. 'I come from a singing family myself, and Jazzy B did sing part of my dad's song about 30 years ago. I really appreciated that. And, so I wanna just welcome Jazzy B and also Sabi Gunnar, Inderpal Moga, Chani Nattan, who I know from the community, Marco, Mander,' Kooner said in the Punjabi singer's introduction.
Later, Brodie called out the appearance in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'Today, several prominent pro-Kalistani figures were welcomed in the BC Legislature by MLAs of both the BC Conservatives and New Democratic Party (NDP). Some of those individuals have openly celebrated violent extremists and murderers in their music videos. This is an insult to our Legislature,' she wrote in the post.
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In the post, she talked about NDP since, until recently, the party was led by pro-Khalistani leader Jagmeet Singh, who stepped down after losing his Burnaby Central seat during the national elections in April. NDP also lost national status as it slipped to eight seats from 24.
Meanwhile, Wyatt Claypool, senior correspondent and editor at The National Telegraph, posted an X thread condemning the public recognition and promotion of pro-Khalistani artists. 'What's with all the MLAs in the BC legislature introducing all the Khalistani rappers today? Jazzy B is a hardcore Khalistani activist who has several times called for Khalistan," he wrote.
Here is Jazzy B's music video cover with the terrorist Bhindranwale on it. (The guy who called for 5,000 Hindus to be murdered) pic.twitter.com/NSPC0Ud3ed — Wyatt Claypool (@wyatt_claypool) May 27, 2025
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In a different post, he shared a photo of a music video featuring Jazzy B with the image of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the Khalistan separatist leader. 'Here is Jazzy B's music video cover with the terrorist Bhindranwale on it. (The guy who called for 5,000 Hindus to be murdered)," Claypool averred.
Meanwhile, Jazzy B also posted multiple photos on Instagram from his visit to the BC Legislature. 'I am deeply honoured, humbled, and grateful to have been invited to attend The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia 1st Session 43rd Parliament, hosted by The Premier Hon. David Eby, K.C., Speaker of the House Hon. Raj Chouhan, and Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert," the singer wrote in the post.
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Yet, many of America's European allies still quietly cling to those guidelines. The recent French-Saudi-led conference at the UN in New York was, in many ways, a revival attempt of the Tokyo vision. But the White House boycotted that gathering, calling it a "publicity stunt". "The US will not participate in this insult," said a State Department spokesperson. The insult, it seems, was the idea of peace without Israel's permission. Inside Gaza, no such declarations are heard. Internet access is patchy. Communication is frail. But a few voices still rise from the ashes. "Another slap to Israel - this time from Canada," wrote Gaza-based journalist Imad Abu Shawish. "Every recognition brings us a step closer to our dream of an independent state." Yet, even he must wonder whether these recognitions will translate into real change on the ground. For the mother boiling weeds to feed her children, or the boy who flinches at every sound from the sky, symbolic recognitions do not rebuild homes or resurrect the dead. Break From Policy British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his country's recognition will be delayed only if Israel takes concrete steps towards a ceasefire and a sustainable peace. But Tel Aviv has already dismissed that condition. However, that has not shaken the British resolve. According to a report in the BBC, which quotes a senior British official, the move is now "irreversible". It is, at the very least, a break from decades of British policy. No one in London, Paris, Canberra or Ottawa pretends that this will result in an independent Palestinian state anytime soon. The hope, as stated by British diplomats, is to empower moderates on both sides. It is a moral jolt more than a diplomatic manoeuvre. A late one, but necessary all the same. Meanwhile, Israel, with US backing, continues to pursue a strategy that offers no political solution - only military dominance. Gaza, once a place of neighbourhoods and schools and beach cafés, is now a graveyard. There is no talk of reconstruction, only of control. And Trump, when pressed for his vision of the future, simply pointed to Netanyahu. You see, the American president no longer leads. Nothing Moves Without US European nations are trying to step into the vacuum. But even they admit: without American backing and without Israeli cooperation, they are fumbling in the dark. Their September deadline may bring stronger language, more recognitions, louder condemnations. But without enforcement mechanisms, without material pressure, these recognitions remain on paper. Still, something has shifted. The world's superpower may have abdicated its role, but others are stirring. The taboo of Palestinian statehood among Western elites has been broken. For the first time in years, the word "Palestine" is being uttered alongside words like "legitimacy" and "recognition", not just "terror" and "hostage". That matters. Not enough, but it matters. What matters more, though, is how the world will act when the famine worsens, when Israel seizes Gaza City, when the September deadline for recognition arrives and when Israeli rejection continues. Recognition must not be the end of the conversation. It must be the beginning of something far more uncomfortable, far more urgent. It is not too late to save the living. But it is far too late to pretend you simply didn't know. Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author
