Trudeau Not Accorded a ‘Modi Reception’, Yogi Too Gives Him a Miss

It is being widely perceived that Trudeau & his contingent are being given a lukewarm welcome to their India visit.

The miss by PM Modi is largely being viewed by some as the Indian government’s cold shoulder. Others argue that the PM is not obligated to receive every visiting head of state.

(Photo: PTI)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau landed in India with family on 17 February to begin his week-long visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries.

Trudeau, on his first state visit to the country after assuming power in 2015, was received not by the Prime Minister, but by a junior minister, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Rajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Political observers across the globe were quick to point out this move on part of the Modi government, especially at a time when the Prime Minister has been seen breaking protocol to receive his guests personally – most recently for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – constituted a deliberate snub after the lingering Khalistan issue. Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh has accused several members of the Trudeau cabinet of being Khalistan sympathisers and having links to Sikh separatists, in a very public diplomatic spat. A number of those ministers are part of Trudeau’s contingent to India.

Candice Malcolm, a columnist for Canadian daily Toronto Sun, noted Modi’s absence as Trudeau landed:

But it is also being argued that Modi not receiving Trudeau personally is simply down to the fact that Canada does not carry the political, strategic or economic heft that the US, Israel, or the UAE does. As Vice India’s news editor tweeted:

Observers are perceiving this ‘snub’ as a response to Trudeau’s nonchalant stance on Sikh separatism in Canada.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath too chose not to receive Trudeau and his family in Agra, leaving the organising and meeting to his district magistrate instead. Trudeau and his family were in the city to visit the iconic Taj Mahal.

Yogi had earlier received Israeli PM Netanyahu on the latter’s visit in January.

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