Justin Trudeau sees ‘opportunity’ in India ties after meeting PM in Italy

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he sees an “opportunity” to engage with the new Indian government, including on economic ties and national security, after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit in Italy.

Speaking to the Canadian media on Tuesday, Trudeau said one of the really good things about the G7 Summit is that “you get an opportunity to engage directly with a huge range of different leaders with whom there are various issues and certainly with India, there are massive people to people ties, they’re really important economic ties.”

“There’s alignment on a number of big issues that we need to work on as, as democracies as a global community. But now that he (Modi) is through his election, I think there is an opportunity for us to engage, including on some very serious issues around national security and keeping Canadians safe and the rule of law that we will be engaging,” the Canadian Prime Minister was quoted as saying by CBC News.

PM Modi and Justin Trudeau briefly interacted on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy. This was their first face-to-face meeting after Trudeau alleged in September last year of “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated Sikh terrorist.

Later, PM Modi posted an image on social media of the two leaders shaking hands, with a one-liner saying “met Canadian PM Justin Trudeau at the G7 Summit”.

When asked if he has seen improvement in cooperation from India on the Canadian probe into the murder of Nijjar in Surrey in British Columbia, Trudeau said, “There is work ongoing very much.”

India had strongly rejected Trudeau’s allegations from last year, calling them “absurd and motivated”.

In turn, New Delhi has accused Canada of giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from its soil with impunity.

India has repeatedly conveyed its “deep concerns” to Canada and New Delhi expects Ottawa to take strong action against those elements.

Nijjar’s murder is being probed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Four Indian nationals have been arrested in this connection by the RCMP.