India

Justin Trudeau In Amritsar: Visit To Golden Temple And Meeting With Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Feb, 2018 10:20 PM

Following his Mumbai visit, PM Justin Trudeau is visiting Amritsar today. Preparations by the Punjab government are in full swing for the proposed visit. Mr Trudeau is scheduled to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple along with his family. A thick security blanket was put in place in and around the Golden Temple for the visit.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is slated to welcome the Canadian PM in Amritsar. Former deputy chief minister of Punjab and president of the SAD Sukhbir Badal and his wife Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal would receive the Canadian PM at the main gate of Golden Temple.

Reached Sri Darbar Sahib to welcome Canadian PM Mr. @JustinTrudeau pic.twitter.com/x369zHhfr1
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) February 21, 2018

Mr Trudeau would partake of langar at Guru Ram Das Langar Hall, which is the community kitchen of the Golden Temple. The SGPC has arranged a specially crafted 24-karat gold-plated portrait of the shrine and a gold-plated 'Siri Sahib' (a small six-inch sword) to be presented to the Canadian PM along with a 'siropa' (robe of honour) and a shawl.

The Canadian prime minister is on week-long visit to India. Mr Trudeau is accompanied by wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and three children -Ella-Grace, Xavier and Hadrien.

AMARINDER TO MEET SIX MINISTERS ACCOMPANYING CANADIAN PM

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh will interact with six ministers accompanying Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the one-to-one meeting between the two leaders on Wednesday.

Union Minister Hardeep Puri would also be present during the meeting.

On my way to Amritsar for an one-to-one meeting with Canadian Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau. pic.twitter.com/AtsZmmHcq7
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 21, 2018

Media adviser to the CM, Raveen Thukral, tweeted, "On request from @CanadainIndia, Punjab C.M. @capt_amarinder will interact with the six ministers accompanying the Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau after the one-to-one meeting between the two leaders. Union Minister @HardeepSPuri will also be present."

On request from @CanadainIndia, Punjab C.M. @capt_amarinder will interact with the six ministers accompanying the Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau after the one-to-one meeting between the two leaders. Union Minister @HardeepSPuri will also be present. pic.twitter.com/2mt7cuuxlF
— RaveenMediaAdvPunCM (@RT_MediaAdvPbCM) February 21, 2018

Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said: “The meeting between Amarinder Singh and Justin Trudeau can take Punjab 20 years ahead. The meeting will strengthen the two countries relations. It’s a mutual symbiosis, which can transform both the countries.”

The 20-minute meeting between Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh & Canadian PM Justin Trudeau can take Punjab 20 years ahead. This visit will strengthen India & Canada relations, it is a mutual symbiosis which can transform both the countries : Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu pic.twitter.com/ec1VLxNVjA
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2018

SGPC TO KEEP HARDLINERS AT BAY

Tight security arrangements have been made in and around the holy city. Security agencies and SGPC officials were on their toes to ensure the high-profile visit doesn’t face any glitch or controversy.

Sources said their biggest challenge would be to keep the separatist forces at bay and ensure that they did not raise pro-Khalistan slogans. Earlier during Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s visit, hardliners had managed to sneak into the Golden Temple in the guise of devotees and had raised slogans, leading to a clash with the security personnel.

SAD (Amritsar) general secretary Jarnail Singh Sakhira said they would hand over a memorandum to the Canadian PM regarding Sikh issues in his country. “We don’t rely on Amarinder or Sukhbir to raise Sikh issues genuinely. We will try to approach Canadian PM at the Golden Temple complex,” he said.

Meanwhile, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said Trudeau and his team had been doing remarkable job in the interest of the Sikh community in Canada and he would be duly honoured, if he visited Akal Takht.

JASSI SINDHU MURDER: MAN IN PUNJAB WANTS TRUDEAU TO EXTRADITE HIS WIFE'S ALLEGED KILLERS

Sukhwinder Singh Mithu's Canadian wife Jaswinder Kaur Jassi was allegedly killed at the behest of her mother and paternal uncle.

Mithu wants Trudeau to "personally intervene" to extradite both the accused to India.

SIKHS HAPPY IN CANADA, WON’T RAISE ANY ISSUE WITH TRUDEAU: SGPC

Asserting that Sikhs are happy in Canada, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Sunday said they will not raise any community-related issue with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit to Amritsar on February 21.

“First, it is not fair to give a memorandum to someone who comes to Sri Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) to pay obeisance. People themselves visit the shrine with their demands,” said Roop Singh, chief secretary of the SGPC, giving rationale behind the decision.

“Second, Sikhs living in Canada are happy in every respect. The country is already honouring the Sikhs in a big way. The fact that Canada has four Sikh ministers reflects that,” he said.

He said, “The fundamental rights of the Sikhs are protected by the Canadian government. There are several gurdwaras in Canada. Besides, Punjabi is a well recognised language there and conditions are favourable for promoting Punjabi culture as well. If the Sikhs do not face any problem there, there is no question of raising any demand with him.”

Radical Sikh organisation Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by Simranjit Singh Mann and Sikh rights advocacy group ‘Khalra Mission Organisation’ have announced to hand over a charter of demands concerning the Sikhs to Trudeau.

Why does @capt_amarinder forget his these pictures when he label others as #Khalistan supporter? In one of these photos he is addressing the Sikhs from a Khalistan stage in #Canada & in 1994 at Akal Takht, he along with me pledged to struggle for the achievement of #Khalistan. pic.twitter.com/vK7zYswWnC
— Simranjit Singh Mann (@SimranjitSADA) February 20, 2018

#Simranjit_Singh_Mann welcomes Mr. #Trudeau_Prime_Minister_of_Canada to the Indian sub-continent.
Posted by Simranjit Singh Mann on Tuesday, 20 February 2018

But Longowal insisted, “No individual or organisation will be allowed give a memorandum (to the Canadian PM) as protocol of the visit is strict.”

"He should help in extraditing the two culprits to India to face law of the land. They have killed my love and I have been fighting for justice for 18 years. Why is Canada protecting the killers?" the report quoted Mithu as saying.

CANADIAN PM ARRIVES IN AMRITSAR

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday arrived in the Sikh holy city here in Punjab.

Accompanied by his wife and three minor children, Trudeau landed at the Sri Guru Ramdas Jee International airport from Mumbai and headed straight for the Golden Temple complex to offer prayers at the shrine.

He was received at the airport by Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Punjab Tourism Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Hello Punjab! Happy to be in Amritsar with @CanadianPM Justin Trudeau and delegation @CanadainIndia #TrudeauinIndia pic.twitter.com/wKnPJ18yAp
— Nadir Patel (@nadirypatel) February 21, 2018

Six federal ministers from Canada, including four of Indian-origin, are accompanying Trudeau.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and delegation Reaches Amritsar welcomed by @sherryontopp @CanadainIndia #TrudeauinIndia @JustinTrudeau @NewsWorldIN @KhabarNwi pic.twitter.com/Ck9CmluGeo
— Mohit Malik (@MrMMalik) February 21, 2018

Trudeau and his family will offer prayers at the holiest of Sikh shrines, 'Harmandir Sahib', underlining the significance of the role of the large Sikh and Punjabi community settled in Canada.

Promoting closer ties between Canada and Punjab. Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau arrives in Amritsar. Is received by Union Minister of State for Urban Development @HardeepSPuri & @sherryontopp Minister of Local Government, Tourism, Cultural Affairs, & Museums of the State of Punjab pic.twitter.com/WiLhAm7sO4
— Vikas Swarup (@VikasSwarup) February 21, 2018

Tight security was in place in and around this holy city for the visit. Hundreds of security personnel have been on duty since Tuesday for Trudeau's visit to Amritsar which will be for less than three hours.

Students of Akal Academy at the Amritsar airport to welcome the Canadian PM.

JUSTIN TRUDEAU ALONG WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN ARRIVES AT AMRITSAR'S GOLDEN TEMPLE

Red carpet rolled out for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he arrived at the Golden Temple.He is being accompanied by Hardeep Singh Puri and Navjot Singh Sidhu

#Punjab: Canadian Prime Minister #JustinTrudeau along with his wife and children arrives at Amritsar's Golden Temple. pic.twitter.com/Pvv8jDe4Zr
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2018

Police detain All India Sikh Students Federation chief Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad and aides at Golden Temple. They were at the temple to honour Trudeau.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal welcome Trudeau at the entrance plaza of the Sikh shrine.

Trudeau performs sewa, prepares rotis inside Langar hall at Golden Temple

Trudeau arrived at the Golden Temple in a Punjabi dress with kesri patka wrapped on his head. His wife was also dressed in a suit.

The Canadian PM performs parikrama (walk around the marbled periphery) amidst thick security in the shape of human chain.

Visuals of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family in Golden Temple

Visuals of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family in Golden Temple in #Amritsar, earlier today. pic.twitter.com/h09ne52urN
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2018

Paying obeisance at the holiest shrine of the Sikhs. PM @JustinTrudeau visits the Golden Temple in Amritsar. pic.twitter.com/5zl4vncfXQ
— Vikas Swarup (@VikasSwarup) February 21, 2018

Canadian Prime Minister #JustinTrudeau's message in the visitors book at #Amritsar's Golden Temple. pic.twitter.com/LGJZmbSZwC
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2018

Punjab: Canadian Prime Minister #JustinTrudeau at #Amritsar's Golden Temple, with his family. pic.twitter.com/YaYGvBTBRR
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2018

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau & Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan meet Punjab's CM Capt. Amarinder Singh in Amritsar.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau & Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan meet Punjab's CM Capt. Amarinder Singh in Amritsar. pic.twitter.com/b0quHM1jDh
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2018

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