Ending uncertainty over the issue, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Monday that he was all set to meet Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the latter's visit to Amritsar on Wednesday.
Amarinder Singh tweeted on Monday that he was looking forward to the "one-on-one" meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister.
Trudeau is arriving in Amritsar on Wednesday and will offer prayers at the Golden Temple complex, where the holiest of Sikh shrines 'Harmandir Sahib' is located.
The visit is of political and social significance in Canada as that country has a substantial Indian diaspora, majority of them being from Punjab.
"Look forward 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," Amarinder Singh said.
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.
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 19, 2018
The Chief Minister, who has already issued instructions to the state administration to roll out the red carpet for the visiting dignitary's 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," he posted.
There was uncertainty over Amarinder Singh's meeting with Trudeau as the Punjab Chief Minister had last year courted controversy when he had refused to meet Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, the first Sikh Defence Minister of a western country, during a visit to Punjab in April last year.
Amarinder Singh had gone public to label Sajjan and other ministers of Indian origin in the Trudeau government as "Khalistani sympathizers".
In a change of tone now, Amarinder Singh expressed the hope that his meeting with Trudeau would help strengthen the bilateral relations in context of the diaspora.
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).
Prime Minister Trudeau is in India to boost India-Canada relations.
— Natasha Fatah (@NatashaFatah) February 18, 2018
The current relations have been described as icy, and overshadowed by the perception that Canada is sympathetic to the Sikh separatist movement. #cdnpoli
We get analysis from former BC Premier Ujjal Dosanjh. pic.twitter.com/fjh4TbjOXr
Punjab has deep roots with Canada, where a large Punjabi community is settled, and has always striven to strengthen the connect, Amarinder Singh said and expressed appreciation for Trudeau's efforts in this direction.
Citing Trudeau's apology two years ago in the Canadian parliament 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, he 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.
Trudeau is in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat today, where streets are hung with banners bearing his picture.
Throughout the city of Ahmedabad, billboards and banners with Trudeau's and Modi's photos and the saying "Long Live India-Canada Friendship" are displayed along the motorcade route.
Kem Cho Gujarat! First time a Canadian Prime Minister visits the state of Gujarat, and what a warm Gujarati welcome! @CanadainIndia CanadainIndia #TrudeauInIndia pic.twitter.com/cRfjwmqKT8
— Nadir Patel (@nadirypatel) February 19, 2018
Ahmedabad is ready for the arrival of @CanadianPM !! @CanadainIndia #TrudeauInIndia pic.twitter.com/kXAbLiDTbs
— Jennifer Daubeny (@JenniferDaubeny) February 18, 2018
Even the auto rickshaws are anticipating the visit in #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/GeL3IcCHqQ
— Matt Friesen (@mattfriesen16) February 18, 2018
Morning at Sabarmati ashram, where Mahatma Ghandi lived from 1917 to 1930. Fascinating and beautiful place of peace. pic.twitter.com/0UvdusHG8Q
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 19, 2018
Modi has not yet met Trudeau in person on his trip to India and isn't scheduled to meet him until Friday, prompting some critics in both India and Canada to suggest he is snubbing Trudeau.
Akshardham Temple in all its beauty. Sophie and I were honoured to visit. pic.twitter.com/KtIAHTtVQ2
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 19, 2018
Quiet family moments at the #Gandhi Ashram #trudeauinindia @EyesAbroad pic.twitter.com/EbPBAtpn43
— Matt Friesen (@mattfriesen16) February 19, 2018
Homage to the icon of peace and no-violence. PM @JustinTrudeau and family visit the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/sI5u8MIrc3
— Vikas Swarup (@VikasSwarup) February 19, 2018
Thanks to High Commissioner @nadirypatel for hosting a wonderful dinner, and for the warm welcome to #India. Looking forward to the week ahead. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/5MbVox7uQ6
— Navdeep Bains (@NavdeepSBains) February 18, 2018
Stopped by Canada’s Consulate General in Bangalore. Thank you to the women and men who work here and represent our country. @Jenniferdaubeny @CanadainIndia @nadirypatel @CanadaFP pic.twitter.com/qt2KSLMJg2
— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) February 19, 2018
Connecting with the youth. Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau participates in a townhall at IIM Ahmedabad. pic.twitter.com/aD6T8sUJkH
— Vikas Swarup (@VikasSwarup) February 19, 2018
@CanadianPM had great answers for tough questions from @IIMAhmedabad students and moderator @ShereenBhan @CanadainIndia #TrudeauInIndia pic.twitter.com/I6SrRTm2Hf
— Chad Hensler (@chadhensler) February 19, 2018
Seems the olive branch meeting is a go. https://t.co/kXnAQR7B7I
— Mia Rabson (@mrabson) February 19, 2018
Trudeau arrives in Indian PM Modi’s hone state of Gujarat to streets lined with banners and posters. #cdnpoli #canadaindia pic.twitter.com/JEaZUrkJ7n
— Mia Rabson (@mrabson) February 19, 2018
