NDP’s drive against law on religious symbols

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 20

While a Quebec superior court justice has turned down a plea to temporarily suspend parts of the province’s new controversial religious symbols law barring people of public authority from wearing any religious symbols at work, the New Democratic Party (NDP) is spearheading a campaign for the minorities who were opposing the law tooth and nail.

Jagmeet Singh was currently holding his roadshow in Quebec where his party has 15 seat and where he was striving hard to increase his vote share for the forthcoming October 21 Canadian federal polls.

“Quebec’s new law imposing a ban on wearing religious symbols for members of minority communities (holding public offices) during work was making them feel as if they have ceased to belong to the province. I am with them and will be opposing the legislation in Ottawa (in Canadian Parliament),” said Jagmeet Singh, while interacting with locals in small gatherings.

Representatives of the National Council of Canadian Muslims pleaded in the court for freezing of some aspects of the law during last hearing in Montreal in early July. But, the Quebec court decision released on Thursday made it clear that there was relief for minorities as the requested injunction has been turned down. It was a different matter that the court pointed out that the law raises certain “serious” constitutional questions.

Interestingly, a vast majority of locals supported the new law on the contention that it was time for the immigrants to get “adapted” to Quebec’s culture.

But, Jagmeet continued to persuade them by establishing a personal connection with them apparently in his bid to retain his party’s 15 seats in the province.