Poilievre blasted over Singh nickname

Harjit Singh Sajjan says Tory leader's use of term is 'racist'

- MARK RAMZY

OTTAWA The Conservatives and Liberals are sparring over an accusation from a Liberal minister that a nickname Pierre Poilievre uses to ridicule NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is racist.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan told the Star in a statement Wednesday that the Conservative leader's use of "Sellout Singh" to refer to the New Democrat leader is "absolutely offensive" and "racist" because it targets the Sikh community and perpetuates inequality, an allegation the Conservatives reject.

The conflict comes amid heightened tensions in a minority Parliament, in which an election campaign can now be triggered at any time due to the NDP's exit from its supply and confidence agreement with the Trudeau Liberals.

At issue is the fact that the name "Singh" is given to all practising Sikh men as a symbol of equality in their faith, and that many Sikh men — including the NDP leader — choose to use it instead of the last name they were given at birth.