Defence News
Justin Trudeau tells Amarinder Singh: Canada does not support any separatist movement in India
Putting to rest all speculation, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a private hotel in Amritsar on Wednesday. In the 40-minute meeting, Amarinder raised the Khalistan issue with Trudeau with the latter assuring him that Canada did not support any separatist movement in India or elsewhere.
Amarinder had been reluctant in meeting anyone from the Canadian administration, saying he was not interested in meeting anyone with a soft approach to those camapigning for a separate Khalistan movement. Last year, Amarinder did not meet Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan Singh during the latter’s visit to the state.
A press statement issued by the Punjab government stated that Amarinder sought the Canadian Prime Minister’s cooperation in cracking down on separatism and hate crime by a fringe element.
Trudeau, for his part, cited the separatist movement in Quebec and said he had “dealt with such threats all his life and was fully aware of the dangers of violence, which he had always pushed back with all his might”.
The Punjab CM also handed over to Trudeau a list of nine Category `A’ Canada-based operatives alleged to be involved in hate crimes in Punjab by financing and supplying weapons for terrorist activities and also engaged in trying to radicalise youth and children here.
