Modi scolds Trudeau over Sikh protests in Canada against India

TORONTO, Sept 10 (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his serious concern about protests in Canada against India to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhiaccording to a statement from India.

New Delhi has long been sensitive to Sikh protesters in Canada. In June, India criticized Canada for allowing a float in a parade representing the 1984 assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards, perceived as a glorification of violence by Sikh separatists.

“They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic facilities and threatening the Indian community in Canada and its places of worship,” the Indian statement said.

Relations between India and Canada remain tense and this month Ottawa halted talks on a proposal. trade treaty with india, just three months after the two nations said they intended to seal an initial agreement this year. Modi, who held bilateral meetings with many world leaders during the G20 summit, did not hold any with Trudeau.

Indira Gandhi was assassinated in 1984 by two Sikh bodyguards after she allowed the assault on the holiest Sikh temple in northern India, with the aim of expelling Sikh separatists who were demanding an independent homeland known as Khalistan.

Canada has the largest population of Sikhs outside their home state of Punjab in India, and the country has been the site of many protests that have irritated India.

Canada will always defend “freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and peaceful protest,” Trudeau said at a news conference in New Delhi.

“At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence, to stand up to hate,” he said, adding that the actions of a few “do not represent the entire community or Canada.”

Trudeau’s departure from the G20 summit was delayed Sunday due to a technical problem with the Canadian delegation’s plane, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office. The delegation will remain in India until alternative arrangements are made, he added.

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