Photo credit: globalnews.ca

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh Reveals Life Threat That Nearly Forced Him to Resign

During a campaign stop in London, Ontario, on Saturday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh disclosed that he contemplated resigning after being informed of a credible threat to his life in December 2023.

Singh detailed the incident to reporters as he campaigns in the lead-up to the final vote on Monday. He explained that the RCMP had alerted him to the threat, resulting in significant police protection for him and his family during the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. The realization that he was the target of a genuine threat was particularly distressing.

“When I received the threat, I was taken aback,” Singh expressed. “Contemplating the implications for my family and understanding that I was facing a real danger gave me chills.”

At that time, his wife, Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu, was pregnant with their second daughter, while their eldest daughter was nearly two years old.

“Initially, I spent several days in the basement as advised, avoiding windows,” he noted. “It was a grave situation.”

Singh mentioned having some difficult conversations with his wife about whether to continue leading the party, acknowledging that his position as a prominent elected official was the catalyst for the threats. Ultimately, he resided on because he had important objectives to pursue, such as advancing the national dental care program that the party had advocated for the Liberals to implement.

Though the RCMP did not specify the source of the threats, Singh indicated that the implication was they were tied to a foreign government.

Singh is not the only political figure to receive heightened security in recent years; multiple MPs and cabinet ministers have also been assigned RCMP protection. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, for instance, has been under constant protection for over a year. Former emergency preparedness minister Harjit Sajjan also received protection for several months in 2023 and 2024, as did Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman.

Context of Increased Security for Political Leaders

The surge in security needs coincides with various global incidents, such as the Hamas attack on Israel in October and subsequent conflict in Gaza, as well as serious allegations involving Indian state agents in the killing of a Canadian Sikh leader. Singh, in particular, has refrained from discussing specific threats, but his spokeswoman remarked in 2024 that the party was adhering to recommended safety measures.

Singh began speaking publicly about his experience after numerous campaign trail interactions with constituents who voiced concerns regarding foreign interference and threats they face in their everyday lives.

“Throughout this campaign, many personal accounts surfaced about how people are targeted,” he reflected. “Given the numerous challenges faced by ordinary citizens, it seemed crucial for me to share my story, especially in light of how serious and hazardous foreign interference can be.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a statement in the House of Commons on September 19, 2023, accusing the Indian government of involvement in the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot while in his truck near a gurdwara in Surrey, B.C. on June 18, 2023. Nijjar was a pivotal figure in organizing unofficial referendums seeking an independent Sikh state in India and was labeled a terrorist by the Indian government.

Three Indian nationals, all in their twenties, are charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder regarding Nijjar’s assassination.

During a visit to a gurdwara in Saskatoon on April 9, Singh faced inquiries from the Sikh community regarding foreign interference. “This was an issue I had been hesitant to address before, but I recognized this as an opportunity to shed light on its seriousness,” he commented.

While only the prime minister and governor general receive permanent RCMP protection, other political leaders, ministers, and MPs can request it as necessary. The financial burden associated with safeguarding MPs, excluding the prime minister, has notably escalated in recent years.

Pat McDonell, the sergeant-at-arms in the House of Commons, disclosed to a House committee in May 2024 that instances of harassment against MPs have surged by up to 800 percent in the past five years, with most incidents occurring online, though physical confrontations have also been reported.

As Singh reveals this critical information with just two days left in the federal election, his party faces considerable challenges in public opinion polls and risks losing its official party status following Monday’s vote.

Source
globalnews.ca