Its official! Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is having one-to-one meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday.
Confirming the meeting and ending the prevailing uncertainty, Capt Amarinder took to Twitter on Monday saying that he was looking forward to meeting Canadian Prime Minister in Amritsar on Wednesday.
“look forward to meeting Canadian Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau in Amritsar on Wednesday. I’m hopeful that this meeting will help strengthen the close Indo-Canadian business ties as well as the deep-rooted people-to-people relations between our two countries,” he tweeted.
The much-awaited meeting between the two is taking place after many flip-flops. And that too after the personal efforts by the Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, who was snubbed by Capt Amarinder during his India tour in April last year.
Sajjan had, a day before, reportedly asked the Canadian High Commissioner in India to arrange a meeting between Trudeau and Capt Amarinder.
Trudeau, who started his week-long India tour on Sunday from Agra, is scheduled to visit Amritsar’s Golden Temple on February 21.
Earlier, Capt Amarinder had denied meeting Trudeau while publicly accusing members of his Cabinet of being connected to the Sikh separatist movement, Khalistan.
Capt Amarinder had many times, including earlier this month, stated that he believed that several members of Trudeau’s cabinet were sympathetic to Sikh separatists who want to create an independent Sikh state called Khalistan — something Trudeau and the cabinet ministers themselves have all along been denying.
In a volte-face a few days ahead of Canadian Premier’s India visit, Capt Amarinder had not only lauded Sajjan for clarifying his stance on Khalistan, but also congratulated Trudeau for creating the necessary environment against secessionist forces believed to be operating from his country.
Capt Amarinder had stated that he was looking forward to meet Canadian Prime Minister, and “the visit will give Canada and Punjab the opportunity to strengthen business and trade ties for mutual benefit”.
Days after that, the visiting Canadian officials had denied of having any official meeting between the two. At the same time, there were reports that Capt Amarinder is not keeping well.
Now, with Sajjan’s intervention, the meeting between Capt Amarinder and Trudeau is official.
During the meeting, Capt Amarinder would take Punjab’s close business as well as people-to-people relations with Canada to the next level.
Already, the Chief Minister has issued instructions to the state administration to roll out red carpet for the visiting dignitary’s February 21 visit.
Capt Amarinder expressed the hope that his meeting with Trudeau would help strengthen the bilateral relations between Canada and India, particularly in the context of Punjab, which has a large diaspora in Canada.
While trade and business will be the key focus area of the meeting, the two leaders are also expected to discuss steps to intensify the close relations between the people of the two countries, according to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Punjab has deep roots with Canada, where a large Punjabi community is settled, and has always striven to strengthen the connect, said Capt Amarinder, appreciating Trueau’s efforts in this direction.
The Chief Minister referred to the Prime Minister’s apology two years ago in the Canadian Parliament, where Trudeau had apologised for 1914 Komagata Maru incident, in which hundreds of Sikh, Muslim and Hindu passengers in a ship were denied entry to Canada and forced to return to India, where they met a violent fate.
Capt Amarinder said that it was a gesture that underlined the depth of the relations between the two countries, which Wednesday’s meeting would help in consolidating further.
The Chief Minister has, meanwhile, ordered the administration to ensure that the Canadian Prime Minister and his family is extended all the courtesies befitting their status.
He has asked the officials to ensure the best of facilities to the Canadian Prime Minister, his family and his entourage to make their visit to the holy city a pleasant and memorable one.