New Delhi: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was left red-faced again after the Toronto Police Association, Canada’s largest municipal police labour union, exposed his bluff on the handgun ban. For the unversed, Trudeau, on X (formerly Twitter) had falsely celebrated his government’s efforts against government-licensed handgun users.
“Two years ago today, we froze the handgun market and stopped handguns from being bought, sold, or transferred anywhere in Canada. We choose your safety over the gun lobby — every time”, Trudeau wrote on X.
Dismissing his claims, the Toronto Police Association, said, “Criminals did not get your message. Our communities are experiencing a 45% increase in shootings and a 62% increase in gun-related homicides compared to this time last year. What difference does your handgun ban make when 85% of guns seized by our members can be sourced to the United States?”
It added,”Your statement is out of touch and offensive to victims of crime and police officers everywhere. Whatever you think you’ve done to improve community safety has not worked.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also rejected Trudeau’s claims. “Police call out Trudeau’s appalling record on handgun crime, which is up 116% since he took office after he opened the borders to smugglers and reduced sentences for gun criminals”, Poilievre wrote.
Trudeau’s latest bluff comes at a time when he is facing massive criticism for using Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder to divert attention from other controversies.
A Canadian opposition leader had also accused Trudeau of using Nijjar’s murder. Maxime Bernier, the leader of the People’s Party of Canada, also said the Khalistani militant who is the central figure in the whole controversy was a foreign terrorist who was somehow granted citizenship in 2007.
The relations between India and Canada came under severe strain following Prime Minister Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar, who was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia. New Delhi had rejected Trudeau’s charges as “absurd”.
India has repeatedly criticised Trudeau’s government for being soft on supporters of the Khalistan movement who live in Canada. The Khalistan movement is banned in India but has support among the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada.
India expelled six Canadian diplomats on Monday and announced that it is withdrawing its High Commissioner in Canada, after dismissing Ottawa’s allegations linking the envoy to a probe into the killing of Nijjar.
‘Out of Touch’: Toronto Police Union Exposes Trudeau’s Bluff on Handgun Ban world-news World News | Latest International News | Global World News | World Breaking Headlines Today
