Rising Sikh radicalism in Canada and counter-terror cooperation will be high on the agenda during the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau next week. Trudeau will be in India from February 17 to 23 for a multi-city visit and bilateral talks with Modi. This will be Trudeau's first visit to India.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had raised India's concerns over the fresh wave of pro-Khalistan wave in Canada with his counterpart David Vigneault, Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Services during the latter's visit to New Delhi this week for the preparatory talks. These issues are also expected to figure during the delegation-level talks between the two PMs on February 23. In addition, trade and investment is another area where the two sides will hold extensive discussions.
Sources in the Canadian embassy said the talks would cover all aspects of the ties between the two countries with a focus on counter-terror cooperation, defence, security, trade, investment and climate change.
On the trade aspects, sources said the negotiators of both countries met last week to remove the hurdles in the long-pending Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The Canadian investments in India was around $15 billion in the last few years, and a large number of Canadian investors will be able enter Indian market after the CEPA.
Trudeau, accompanied by his wife and three children, is scheduled to visit Taj Mahal on February 18. He will travel to Ahmedabad on February 19 where he will visit Sabarmati Ashram, Akshardham Temple and participate at an event at IIM-Ahmedabad. On February 20, he will visit Mumbai where he will hold meetings with top business leaders and meet representatives of Indian Film industry to explore various opportunities in the field of cinema.
On February 21, Trudeau will travel to Amritsar where he will visit the Golden Temple. He will return to Delhi the same day. Trudeau is scheduled to visit Jama Masjid and a cricket ground in New Delhi on February 22 besides delivering a lecture at a gathering of Canadian and Indian business leaders.