Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, who has been criticising the Canadian government for its alleged sympathetic views towards the Sikh cause of freedom, today said that he was looking forward to meet Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Amritsar. CM Amarinder Singh had earlier refused to meet Canadian defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan during his visit to Punjab last year.
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Interestingly, the statement issued by Amarinder Singh today does not make any reference to Canada’s approach towards the activities of Sikh diaspora or the “
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau (R) and Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh (L) [File Photos]
“.
CHIEF MINISTER’s OFFICE, PUNJAB
LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING TRUDEAU IN AMRITSAR ON WEDNESDAY, SAYS PUNJAB CM
Chandigarh, February 19
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh is all set to take Punjab’s close business as well as people-to-people relations with Canada to the next level, with a one-to-one meeting with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Amritsar on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister, who has already issued instructions to the state administration to roll out the red carpet for the visiting dignitary’s February 21 visit, said on Monday that he looked forward to the meeting.
“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,” the Chief Minister tweeted.
Captain 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 Captain 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 the 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. Captain Amarinder said 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.