Sajjan’s twoday visit to Punjab from April 21

CHANDIGARH Canada’s minister of national defence Harjit Singh Sajjan, who arrived in New Delhi on Monday on a weeklong visit to the country ending April 23, will reach Punjab on April 21.

Sources in the Canadian high commission said he would be in Chandigarh on April 21 where he would inaugurate the new office of the consulate-general of Canada. He will leave for Amritsar to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple the same day, said sources. During his two-day stay in Punjab, he will also meet civil society organisations.

Before his Punjab visit, Sajjan is scheduled to meet Union finance, defence and corporate affairs minister Arun Jaitley and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, besides other ministers and government officials. On April 18 evening, he will address a press conference in New Delhi.

Canadian high commissioner to India Nadir Patel said: “The minister’s visit is an ideal opportunity to highlight strong links between Canada and India and to boost our people-to-people ties.”

In Delhi, he will deliver a speech at an event hosted by the Observer Research Foundation. In Mumbai, Sajjan will visit Mumbai Port and meet several business and industry leaders.

On his arrival, Sajjan said his first trip to India since becoming Canada’s defence minister would strengthen Canada and India’s bilateral defence cooperation, and expand partnership in security and defence sectors.