Canada’s PM says India trip about broader ties not just political ones
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau downplayed talk of a snub by the Indian government on his first state visit to the country this week, and cast his trip as being focused on building business and cultural ties and not just political ones.
“We are here in such large number and for so many days for a very simple reason. India matters to Canada,” Mr Trudeau told a gathering in Mumbai on Tuesday, where he said his delegation had just inked significant investments in Canada, by Indian tech companies like Tech Mahindra (TEML. NS), Infosys (INFY.NS) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS.NS). “We welcomed over C$1 billion (FJ$1.59) worth of commercial contracts and agreements,” said Mr Trudeau.
Mr Trudeau’s eight-day trip got off to an awkward start after Indian PM Narendra Modi, who often greets his counterparts on their arrival, sent a junior minister from the agriculture department to meet him at the airport. By contrast, Mr Modi himself was on the tarmac to greet and bear-hug Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visited last month. Mr Trudeau’s lukewarm reception, according to media reports, was due to India’s concerns about Mr Trudeau’s perceived soft approach to Sikh extremist groups in his country, and those that sympathise with them.
In comments to the media on Monday however, Mr Trudeau strongly rejected suggestions that Canada was encouraging Sikh extremism, saying Canada’s position of supporting “one united India” had not changed.
Mr Trudeau dismissed a question from a reporter on Monday that he had been snubbed by Mr Modi, saying: “I have met with the Prime Minister in various places around the world and looking forward to sitting down with him on Friday.”