Canadians deserve a clarification

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit India from February 17-23 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. During his trip, Trudeau will visit Agra, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi. In Amritsar, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be visiting the Sri Harmandir Sahib –The Golden Temple, the holiest of Sikh shrines. Visit to another Hindu temple  the Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gujarat is also on the itinerary.

The visit has great significance for both the nations. This will be the fourth meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders met previously in November 2017 during the East Asia Summit in Manila, Philippines; in July 2017 during the G20 in Hamburg, Germany; and in April 2016 during the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C. Prime Minister Trudeau also met him in his capacity as Leader of the Liberal Party in Toronto in April 2015 during Prime Minister Modi’s official visit to Canada.  

Prime Minister Trudeau will also participate in several business roundtables and both India and Canada will be focusing on promoting further trade and investment between two friendly democratic nations.  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sounds optimistic and positive about his visit. “The visit will give Canada and Punjab the opportunity to strengthen business and trade ties for mutual benefit,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in an official statement . The Canadian delegation will also work closely with Indian leaders to advance mutual growth and prosperity.

While in India, Prime Minister Trudeau will also speak to students and why not?  Canada is a leading education destination for Indian students for Canada’s universities, colleges, and schools. Approximately 124,000 Indian students had a valid Canadian study permit in 2017, an increase of over 60 per cent compared to the previous year. India is the second largest source of international students. Also, Canada is home to a large Indian diaspora. Over one million – approximately 3.6 per cent – of Canadians are of Indian heritage. India is Canada’s second largest source of immigrants.

India is also a major source of international tourists for Canada, with 215,000 Indians visiting in 2016.

However, there has been a big question on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to the state of Punjab.  Notably, the chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh had refused to meet Defense Minister Harjeet Sajjan during latter’s visit to Punjab last year and had even accused him of being a “Khalistani sympathizer”.  In April 2017,  chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh claimed that there were  five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government who were Khalistani sympathizers and he would not have any truck with them. Captain Amarinder Singh is said to have felt offended as his poll campaign in Canada was stalled in run-up to the Punjab Assembly elections, and had responded by accusing ministers in Trudeau cabinet of having  “Khalistani leanings” then too.  Amarinder Singh then as the chief of  Punjab  in 2016, had written a strongly- worded letter to Trudeau, lodging a protest for denying permission for interaction with Punjabi NRIs in Canada in run-up to the Punjab assembly elections and had called it a “gag order”.  Hence, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit will be watched with keen interest here in Canada considering that political leaders from Canada have made it a point to visit Punjab to create a positive impact on the voters here in Canada. Though a strange phenomenon, but has been a political norm for some time, and virtually compelling leaders from other party too to visit Punjab especially before elections.  The question that has been hotly debated in both the nations is whether chief minister Amarinder Singh would accord a welcome to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and holds bilateral talks, was answered modestly by Amarinder Singh when he shared with media in India.  “I would be happy to meet Justin Trudeau or welcome him as per the protocol accorded to any state guest of his stature.” However this statement lacked a feeling of bonding and bonhomie.  

Captain Amarinder Singh’s stance on some of visiting ministers has been a cause of concern.  However, Defence Minister Harjeet Sajjan deserves all praise for clearing air and removing some of misconceptions that Captain Amarinder Singh has.  Harjeet Sajjan and his fellow minister Amarjit Sohi issued a statement whereby they stated that they “neither sympathize with nor espouse the Sikh nationalist movement, which is bent on creating a separate country called Khalistan in India’s Punjab region”. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh was prompt to laud both the ministers and congratulated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for creating the necessary environment against secessionist forces believed to be operating from Canada. The Chief Minister said that the clarification by Sajjan that he does not sympathize with the cause, has paved the way for better relations with Canada.  A welcome statement. However, Captain needs to clarify on what bases had he issued allegations against the ministers of Canada. If a statement can make the chief minister change his stance, it certainly implies that his earlier allegations were not based on facts. Perhaps he has been reacting to the action of Canadian authorities for not allowing him to campaign in Canada. Captain was not allowed to carry out campaign as some of the leaders from Akali Dal had faced tough time when touring in Surrey as Punjabis settled out there were upset with the performance of the ruling Akali Dal in Punjab. Captain must take some time off to come out clean of having hurt sentiments of Canadians for having leveled baseless allegations against Harjit Singh Sajjan- duly elected defense minister of Canada.