New Delhi (NVI): Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, during his telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, commended efforts by the Indian government to find a solution to the farmers’ protests by choosing the path of dialogue, the Ministry of External Affairs said today.
“On the farmers’ protests, Prime Minister Trudeau commended efforts of the Government of India to choose the path of dialogue as befitting in democracy,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said during weekly media briefing here.
The two leaders had touched upon the recent farmers protests, during the phone call yesterday.
“The leaders discussed Canada and India’s commitment to democratic principles, recent protests, and the importance of resolving issues through dialogue. They underlined the need to work collectively in rebuilding a more sustainable and resilient global economy,” a readout from Canadian Prime Minister’s office said.
Apart from that, Trudeau also acknowledged the responsibility of his government in providing protection to Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in Canada, Srivastava said in the press briefing.
Pertinent to mention here that India had strongly raised with Canada the issue of security threat to its diplomatic missions in Canada and threat against its Consulate at Vancouver from Sikh extremists in the backdrop of farmers protests in the Delhi-NCR region.
Yesterday, Trudeau called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought Covid vaccines, which the Indian leader promised to help with. The conversation between the two leaders took place amid strains in bilateral ties.
In December last year, the Canadian leader had commented on the ongoing farmers’ protests in India and said he was “concerned”, evoking a sharp retort from India which termed his remarks as “ill-informed” and “unwarranted”.
The External Affairs Ministry had also summoned Canadian High Commissioner in Delhi on December 4 last year and warned that comments made by Trudeau and some other ministers of Canada could have “seriously damaging impact” on the bilateral relations.
-ARK
