Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau on Wednesday assured Punjab Chief Minister (CM), Amarinder Singh, that his country does not support any separatist movement in India or elsewhere.
The categorical assurance from Trudeau came when Amarinder sought the Canadian Prime Minister’s cooperation in cracking down on separatist elements who constitute a miniscule percentage of Canada’s population.
Citing the “separatist movement” in Quebec, Trudeau said he had dealt with such threats all his life and always pushed them back with all his might, CM’s media adviser Raveen Thukral shared after the meeting.
During the 40-minute-long meeting here between the two leaders, the Punjab CM handed over to Trudeau a list of nine ‘Category A’ Canada-based operatives alleged to be involved in spearheading hate crimes in Punjab by financing and supplying weapons, besides trying to radicalise the youth.
At the meeting, which took place in the presence of Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Punjab Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, the CM raised the issue of Indo-Canadians believed to be involved in targeted killings in Punjab, urging him to take cognisance of the same and initiate stern action against such elements. “Though freedom of speech was enshrined in the Indian Constitution, separatists and hardliners, as well as those propagating violence, have lost any such right as they have been rejected outright by the people of Punjab,” said Amarinder.
Thukral said Capt Amarinder thanked Trudeau for his explicit stand on a united India. The Canadian PM assured Amarinder of addressing all concerns raised by the latter, saying he looked forward to closer ties with India, particularly with Punjab.
During the meeting, Amarinder called for cooperation between India and Canada on the issues of terrorism, crime and drugs, while seeking greater sharing of relevant information in the interest of national and international security.
Responding to concerns raised in some quarters on reports of Human Rights violations, the CM said any aberrations were always dealt with strictly, with even policemen being sent to jail by the courts in such cases.
The CM urged the Trudeau to take steps to push investments in Punjab. The two leaders agreed to collaborate through joint projects aimed at facilitating the progress of both, Canada and India.
Amarinder identified higher education, scientific research and technology, innovation and startups, as well as skill development as some of the areas in which Canada could contribute in Punjab. This was the first time any Punjab CM met the PM of Canada, Thukral said.