India strikes back : External Affairs Minister Jaishankar Skipping Canada-LED COVID Strategy Meet
Dated : 06 Dec 2020 (IST)
Seeing that even after the warning issued to the Canadian High commissioner Trudeau did not stop his rantings, India has decided that the External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will skip Canada-led meetings to formulate strategies on the coronavirus pandemic amid. This this the second warning being issued to the Canadian Government over remarks made by Justin Trudeau on the ongoing farmers’ protest in India.
New Delhi has informed Ottawa that EAM Jaishankar will not attend the meeting that is to take place on December 7 due to “scheduling issues”. The meeting has been organised by Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne because of “scheduling” issues. The unwarranted remarks made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the Farmers agitation amounts to interference in our affairs especially when Trudeau is highly ill informed on the subject. Such remarks could impact bilateral relations between India and Canada.
Jaishankar had earlier participated in a virtual meet last month of the Ministerial Coordination Group of Covid-19 (MCGC), led by Canadian foreign minister Francois-Phillippe Champagne.
On Friday, Canadian envoy to New Delhi Nadir Patel was summoned by the MEA and a strong demarche was issued where India said that such remarks made by PM Justin Trudeau could have a “damaging” impact on relations between the two countries.
“The Canadian High Commissioner was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs today and informed that comments by the Canadian Prime Minister, some Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament on issues relating to Indian farmers constitute an unacceptable interference in our internal affairs,” a statement issued by the MEA said.
Despite the Canadian High Commissioner to India being summoned by the MEA over comments made by Canadian politicians, including the Canadian leadership, Justin Trudeau continued to maintain that he would stand for the rights of the Indian farmers to peacefully protest.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday reiterated his position on the ongoing farmers’ protest against the farm bills in India. When asked about India saying that his remarks could impact ties he said, “Canada will always stand up for the right of peaceful protest and human rights”.
“These comments have encouraged gatherings of extremist activities in front of our High Commission and Consulates in Canada that raise issues of safety and security. We expect the Canadian Government to ensure the fullest security of Indian diplomatic personnel and its political leaders to refrain from pronouncements that legitimize extremist activism,” the MEA said.
The farmers’ protests leaped overseas when on the occasion of Gurpurab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, PM Justin Trudeau in an online interaction with the Sikh community leaders and politicians of Canada.
