In what can be termed as a U-turn, the Justin Trudeau government in Canada has now praised the Indian government for holding several rounds of talks with agitating farmers who are sitting on borders of the national capital protesting against the new farm laws. Trudeau conveyed this during his recent phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Canada had earlier raised concerns over the farmers’ agitations in India.
“You would have seen the readouts from both sides on the farmers’ protest, PM Trudeau commended efforts of India to choose the path of dialogue as befitting in democracy. He also acknowledges the responsibility of his government in providing protection to Indian personnel and premises in Canada,” Anurag Srivastava, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), told reporters here.
Canada also assured security to Indian diplomatic missions and diplomats as massive protests by separatists and pro-Khalistani leaders have been organised ever since the farmers’ agitation started nearly two months ago.
Earlier PM Trudeau, while expressing concern about farmers protest, had said, “The situation is concerning and we are all very worried about family and friends. Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest.”
His comments caused outrage in India and New Delhi termed PM Trudeau’s remarks as unwarranted.
Responding to the question on the supply of vaccines to Canada, the MEA spokesperson said, “Decision on these supplies will of course be calibrated as per domestic production and the requirements of national vaccination programme which is the largest vaccination drive in the world.”
Canada had asked India to allow the supply of Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pune-based Serum Institute of India.
Interestingly, this change in the Canadian stand same just a few days after PM Modi, in a tweet, said that he “assured him (Trudeau) that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of Covid vaccines sought by Canada”.
Trudeau is facing a public backlash because of the lack of the availability of vaccines as both Pfizer and Moderna have either cut or delayed shipments to Canada which has got only 1.1 million doses so far.
Indo-Canadian trade bodies welcomed the initiative by Trudeau to call Modi in the wake of the setback to bilateral relations after Trudeau issued a statement in December in support of the farmers’ stir in India.
Calling it a big development in bilateral ties, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce president Vijay Thomas told IANS: “India’s promise to deliver Covid vaccine to Canada is welcome news in the wake of some recent headwinds in our relationship. A big barrier has been broken.”
Thomas said the phone discussion between the two Prime Minister could be the beginning of a new partnership. “Sometimes politics leads to a better trade relationship, but better trade too can lead to a better political relationship. This development will help remove all irritants between our two countries.”
Winnipeg businessman Hemant Shah, who has worked for four decades on India-Canada trade, said: “Trudeau has done the right thing by calling Modi. It has taken decades, efforts, and taxpayers’ money to build our bilateral trade relationship with India. We must not harm it with negative statements.” WITH AGENCY INPUTS