While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated his support for “peaceful protests” in India over farm laws, but tried to soften his stance, the damage control exercise may have come too late, as Indo-Canadian groups have voiced their disappointment for the damage. caused to bilateral ties.
During his daily interaction with the media about the pandemic, Trudeau, when asked about the management issued by the Indian government, said: “Canada will always defend the right to peaceful protest anywhere in the world and we are pleased to see progress. towards -climbing and dialogue ”.
Even when “pro-farmers” groups organized a Punjab Kisaan car rally before the Indian high commission in Ottawa, the leading Indo-Canadian organization, the Canada India Foundation (CIF), expressed distress at the adverse impact that the statement of Trudeau already had in the links. , as he said that “a hasty tweet here, or a quick comment there, from leaders in responsible positions in Canada are known to churn the still waters.”
“Political compulsions to appeal to a section of Canadian voters who have deep roots in Punjab farming communities may have played a role in such public pronouncements,” he added.
That came even as India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar will bypass the Canadian-led ministerial coordination group on Covid-19 (MCGC), which India had first joined in November.
At the virtual meeting in recent months, Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne had commented on the “critical role” that India is playing with regard to global requirements for drugs needed to combat the pandemic. .
In its statement, the CIF praised the agricultural laws, saying: “India enacted significant reforms in its agricultural sector through a series of bills recently. The need to reform agriculture in India and bring it up to modern standards was never controversial. “
He also welcomed “the willingness of the Indian government to listen to farmers’ concerns. In a democracy, peaceful negotiations are the only way to resolve differences ”.
Trudeau’s remarks during a Facebook live event to celebrate Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary were followed within hours with him delivering a recorded message to the annual convention of the Indo-Canadian chamber of business.
He praised the economic ties between the two countries in that message and their potential. However, an Indian official noted that with political ties now stagnant, the economic compromise between the two governments will suffer as a result.
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