The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday (December 1) waded into the farmer’s protests that are taking place in the national capital region near Delhi.
Trudeau who was wishing Sikhs on Gurupurab or the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion from the capital Ottawa then raised his concerns about the protest by Indian farmers.
#BREAKING: Canadian Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau raises issue of protests by farmers in India. Says the situation is concerning and Canada has reached out to Indian Government through different means to raise the issue. pic.twitter.com/mShYZeKVRR
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) December 1, 2020
Immediately the external affairs ministry dismissed his remarks as “unwarranted” called the ongoing protest as India’s internal affairs.
Canada has a large Sikh minority community which plays an important role in electoral politics and there are also many Khalistani elements who are very much vocal.
Trudeau was participating in a Facebook video interaction organised by Canadian MP Bardish Chagger and was joined by Canadian ministers Navdeep Bains and Harjit Sajjan and members of the Sikh community.
In his opening remarks during the interaction, Trudeau said: “I would be remiss if I didn’t start also by recognising the news coming out of India about the protest by farmers. The situation is concerning and we’re all very worried about family and friends. I know that’s a reality for many of you. Let me remind you, Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest. We believe in the importance of dialogue and that’s why we’ve reached out through multiple means directly to the Indian authorities to highlight our concerns.”
However, the external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in a brief statement: “We have seen some ill-informed comments by Canadian leaders relating to farmers in India. Such comments are unwarranted, especially when pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic country.”
Srivastava added, “It is also best that diplomatic conversations are not misrepresented for political purposes.”
Trudeau also touched upon the Covid-19 pandemic and said this “is a moment for all of us to pull together”. He added, “We’re going to be there to continue to work together as we are there to help each other out.”
He then went on talk about Guru Nanak’s teachings of compassion, equality and selfless service, which are at the heart of both Sikhism and Canadian values.
Trudeau, who many regard as an ultra-liberal is the first global leader of standing to comment on the protest by Indian farmers.
Has @JustinTrudeau “expressed concern” about the peaceful protests in Hong Kong? Thailand? Poland? France? Bangladesh? And the many countries which have seen protests in the last few weeks? Or is he interested in defending the rights of only politically relevant groups?
— Palki Sharma (@palkisu) December 1, 2020
The vile & pro-terrorist @JustinTrudeau opposed income support of ₹6000 to small & marginal Indian farmers. He opposed crop insurance to Indian farmers. But today is he ‘concerned’ about farmers protests. He is a disaster for Canada. pic.twitter.com/hDPGd0g8cs
— Abhinav Prakash (@Abhina_Prakash) December 1, 2020
The new law passed by the Modi government are meant to liberalise farm trade and open up agricultural markets. However, such comments coming from the Canadian Prime Minister has the strong possibility of hitting bilateral ties between the two nations.
Trudeau, when he first became PM openly showed his soft spot on pro-Khalistan activists and that led to a rather chilly reception when he was on a state visit to Indian in February 2018.