CAPT WILL MEET CANADIAN PM
Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday announced that he will meet Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on his visit to Punjab on February 21, ending days of uncertainty. Amarinder’s announcement on Twitter, followed by a statement from his office, came days after the Canadian media reported that Trudeau, who is on a visit to India from February 17 to 23 and is to visit Amritsar on February 21, will not meet Amarinder. Trudeau and his family are scheduled to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple, considered the central shrine of the Sikhs, a community which, within the larger Indo-Canadian community, plays a significant role in the country’s power circles, reflected in the fact that the Canada has four Sikh ministers. ››P2
“On official state visits to India, PM Modi personally greets and welcomes the Israeli PM, UAE Crown Prince and US President. For PM Trudeau, he sends a low-ranking official. ‘Canada is back’,” tweeted Canadian author and columnist Candice Malcolm.
There were stories in Canadian media that said Trudeau’s perceived support for Sikh separatists may be the reason for the “snub”.
The Sikhs in Canada wield significant political clout and Trudeau’s Cabinet has four Sikh members.
Prime Minister Modi received five leaders at the airport during the last three-and-half years which included the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Barack Obama, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan twice.