Justin Trudeau to meet Amarinder tomorrow, agenda ‘open’

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. (Express photo: Javed Raja)

Sources told The Indian Express that the Canadian High Commission was initially hesitant about scheduling a meeting with Singh. Trudeau, after landing in Delhi on Saturday, took the call to reach out for a meeting. The MEA sent a new itinerary to Punjab government on Monday that included an interaction between the two on February 21. The one-to-one meeting may last for about 20 minutes as Trudeau is scheduled to reach Taj Swarna hotel, where the meeting is to take place, at 12.40 pm after visiting Golden Temple and Partition Museum, and leave for the airport at 1 pm to fly to Delhi at 1.15 pm.

Look forward to meeting Canadian Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau in Amritsar on Wednesday. I’m hopeful that this meeting will help strengthen the close Indo-Canadian business ties as well as the deep-rooted people-to-people relations between our two countries.

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 19, 2018

In the past, Singh has alleged that some of Trudeau’s cabinet ministers are Khalistani sympathisers. He has also said that the Sikh community in Canada is a hotbed of Sikh separatists who support extremist elements.

The Trudeau family greets people present at the ashram in the traditional Indian way. (Express Photo: Javed Raja)

Ahead of Trudeau’s visit, Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan had said on February 7 that Singh’s allegations were “offensive” and “ridiculous”. In his bilateral interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trudeau has maintained that his party and government are in favour of a “united India”, but his country allows freedom of expression which does not go against the rule of law. However, there has been concern in South Block over Trudeau’s actions in the last one year.

Sources said there is a need to hold “some frank discussions” with Trudeau on this issue. While Modi had raised the issue with Trudeau during some of their bilateral interactions, sources said it is important to convey the importance of public opinion through the state leadership of Punjab.

The Trudeaus try their hand at spinning the charkha at Sabarmati Ashram. (Express Photo: Javed Raja)

Row over reception

There was controversy over PM Narendra Modi not receiving Canada PM Justin Trudeau at the airport. A Prime Minister does not receive a visiting PM or President at the airport as a rule. Prime Ministers make those exceptions, depending on the importance New Delhi gives to a particular bilateral relationship.

PM Modi has made a few exceptions, for example with Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe, US President Barack Obama and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina.

There was considerable thinking in South Block before Modi went to receive these leaders at the airport. It is a sum total of factors. As of now, the strategic component of the relationship is quite thin. India and Canada have an economic relationship. There is hardly any defence relationship and security cooperation is minimal. However, Canada is home to over 1.2 million PIOs, who comprise 3 per cent of its population. Besides, over 1 lakh Indian students study in Canada.

With inputs from Navjeevan Gopal in Chandigarh