Jagmeet Singh statement on self-determination open cans of worms

Jagmeet Singh Canadian leader earlier this week opened a lot controversy with his comment in Quebec said he considers self-determination to be a “basic right” for the people to exercise in places such as Punjab, Catalonia, Basque or Quebec.

Canada: Jagmeet Singh was on introductory tour of Canada after his election as leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP) which one of the lead political party in the country who certainly has brought big change in Canada’s politics. His above remark raised remarks to his being Fuzzy understanding on right to self-determination, while in back home in India there was an outright condemnation of the NDP Chief. The Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh called upon the Canadian government to take serious note of such disruptive elements trying to spread discord in India was what he stated. Though such strong reaction to Jagmeet’s statement is from lack of understanding of democratic functioning in a multicultural and Pluralistic Canada, as unlike India such thing or point of view evokes little notice disruption is far away.

Jagmeet was trying to achieve many things in the opportunity primary he is trying to regain NDP’s vote base in Quebec however party was in decline since the massive breakthrough in 2011 federal poll. In 2015 federal polls vote share of the party fell from more than 30% to about 20%.

He was also getting to try keep at bay the Bloc Quebecois(BQ) the party as the party seek advocating independence for the that area.

He at provisional level in Quebec tried to be liberal than the liberal government of Philippe Couillard and also push for sovereignty for the province as popular NDP styled leader. The visible symbol of his belief like the turban and Kripan is also getting gain greater acceptability in a province which strongly favors religious neutrality.

His directing link with Punjab he is obviously trying to pander to the minorities in general and Sikh immigrants in Canada in particular, beside that he pick due to personal affront on score that India dealt him in 2013 by refusing him visa for fomenting contempt against the country. Immigrants to Canada often are quest of two worlds as they adopt liberal democratic traditions of the country as they continue reminisce about events and things back home. As Jagmeet plays both notion well be it conservative social values or hard political developments.

Recently many places seen movements for self-determination as most successful one is South Sudan which acquired independence from Sudan after UN support referendum in 2011. In Spain where Catalonia’s parliament declared independence on Oct 27 through historical background is different to India. They have their constitutional provision for a referendum though Catalonia is not acceptable one. The most recent one other is UK which consist of four nation including Scotland.

In case of Punjab like in some other Provinces in India, demand for separatism has often emanated at different times due to political mishandling of situation and failure of government to either own mistakes or correct faultlines. However  Punjab successive government have been arguing that what the state has got in terms of public investment, infrastructure and funds was not in consonance with stat’s contribution to the nation which was what Catalonians said.

As politician leader and lawyer Jagmeet who comes from an immigrant family may link Punjab, the Basque country and Catalonia to Quebec with eye of minority vote in Canada but he not new to the grievances of the people of Quebec, Catalonia and Punjab. However each case is different the common imperative is the onerous responsibility that rests with the parent country. Rather than seeking right of self-determination purely from the stand point of law and constitutionalism. As it is in their own right of each country to take equipped step to breakthrough province or continue path as it is. Report the wire.