Politics

Public safety committee calls for emergency meeting on RCMP allegations against India

The federal standing committee on public safety and national security has called unanimously for an emergency meeting on the investigation of the Indian government's alleged covert operations in Canada, says MP Allistair MacGregor.

Committee says revelations are 'very alarming'

Indian flag
The flag of India flies in front of the High Commission of India in Ottawa on Monday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that the Canadian government has expelled six Indian diplomats because New Delhi had refused to co-operate with criminal investigations. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

The federal standing committee on public safety and national security has called unanimously for an emergency meeting on the investigation of the Indian government's alleged covert operations in Canada, says MP Alistair MacGregor.

A spokesperson for the committee said in an email Wednesday that the meeting is expected to take place Friday morning.

Members of the standing committee wrote in a letter dated Tuesday that the RCMP revelations are "very alarming." They asked for time to discuss "steps that could be taken by the government to protect Canadians and our country."

On Monday, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme alleged links between agents of the Indian government and "widespread violence" in Canada, including homicides and "well over a dozen" imminent threats against members of the Indian Canadian community, specifically Sikh members.

The committee request comes after NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters Tuesday he wanted a parliamentary committee to look into how to protect Canadians against threats from India.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that the government had expelled six Indian diplomats because New Delhi had refused to co-operate with criminal investigations.

WATCH | NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh calls allegations 'deeply disturbing': 

Singh says RCMP allegations against Indian officials are ‘deeply disturbing’

1 month ago
Duration 2:30
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is calling for an emergency meeting of the public safety committee to look into the RCMP's claim that Indian government agents have been involved in crimes in Canada.