What went wrong
with Trudeau's visit ?
Justin Trudeau
Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau, who
visited India for a week,
remained in controversy
during his recent visit to
India. There was no
formal reception of him at the airport
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, nor
by External Affairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj. However, Trudeau, along with
his wife and children, went to Agra,
Mumbai and Sabarmati. In Mumbai he
also met the Bollywood stars and
businessmen.
The controversy about his visit to
India started when the Canadian High
Commissioner in India sent an
invitation to Jaspal Atwal, an alleged
Sikh terrorist settled in Canada. The
Canadian High Commissioner had
arranged a dinner for the visiting
Prime Minister. When it was known
that invitation had also gone to Jaspal
Atwal, it was immediately rescinded.
But the controversy continued to
prevail.
Jaspal Atwal was convicted in an
attempt to murder case in Canada
when an attempt was made on Malkiat
Singh Sidhu, a minister in the Surjit
Singh Barnala Government during his
visit to his relations in Vancouver.
Although Sidhu survived that attempt,
he was gunned down in Punjab during
the militancy.
Trudeau got lukewarm reception in
India because of alleged soft attitude
of his Liberal Government towards
sikh extremists . His visit to Amritsar on February 22 gained some
importance when he visited
Harmander Sahib to pay obeisance.
He was given big welcome there by the
SGPC authorities, including the
President of the SGPC, Gobind Singh
Longowal. He was presented a Siropa
at the Harmander Sahib.
Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal
It was during his visit to Amritsar
that the Union Government deputed Hardep Puri, Minister of State to
receive him at the Rajasansi Airport
alongwith Nabjot Singh Sidhu, Punjab
Local Bodies Minister who was
deputed on behalf of the Punjab
Government to welcome him Sukhbir
Singh Badal was not allowed inside the
Harmander Sahib. He met Trudeau at
the Library.
Trudeau had one to one meeting
with Punjab Chief Minister Captain
Amarinder Singh at Amritsar in a hotel.
In the meeting, which lasted for about
an hour, Captain Amarinder Singh
lodged a strong protest with Trudeau
for Canadian support to the Sikh
hardliners in Canada.
Amarinder Singh vehemently
presented the Punjab case and gave
him proof of support to hardliners
in Canada who are allegedly funding the hardliners in Punjab.
Trudeau had to feel sorry for the
actions of the Sikh hardliners in
Canada and assured Amarinder Singh
that his government would never
support such elements. Rather, he
promised that he would take action
against them. Amarinder was satisfied
with his meeting with Trudeau.
Before arriving in India, Sikh
ministers, including Harjit Singh
Harsajjan, defence minister, and
Navdeep Bains and Amarjit Sohi had
declared that they had nothing to do
with Khalistan. Only then Amarinder
Singh had agreed to meet Trudeau.
The Khalistani hardliners in Canada
had been extending support to AAM
AADMI PARTY in India. During the
Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections in 2017
a large number of them had come to
Punjab to support the AAP. But the
AAP failed to cut much ice and the
verdict was treated as a rebuff to the
hardliners.
On February 23, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi met Trudeau. During
the joint press briefing Trudeau
promised that his party and
government would not extend any
support to the hardliners. Six
agreements were signed between the
Canadian and Indian Governments.
However, the issue of invitation to
Jaspal Atwal for the dinner at the
residence of the Canadian High
Commissioner in India has not died
down as yet. On his return to Canada,
Trudeau has stated that the invitation
to Jaspal Atwal was the handiwork of
some 'rogue' elements.
The opposition conservative party
in Canada has moved a motion in the
Canadian Parliament opposing
Khalistani terrorism and supporting
united India.
-- K. S. Chawla
