Trudeau's Turbulent India Visit Persists

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to India for the G20 Summit has been marked by awkward moments and a prolonged stay due to a plane snag. Trudeau's subdued presence at the summit and absence from the official G20 gala dinner garnered criticism, with some suggesting he was humiliated on the global stage. His departure from India, originally scheduled for Sunday night, was delayed due to technical issues with his plane.

The Canadian Armed Forces dispatched another plane to pick up Trudeau, and when he leaves, it will mark the end of a diplomatically challenging visit. Trudeau's absence from the G20 dinner and a reportedly awkward encounter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi added to the trip's discomfort.

During a pull-aside meeting between Modi and Trudeau, India expressed concerns about Canada's lack of action against Khalistani elements operating within the country. India has repeatedly urged Canada to address the issue but accuses Trudeau's government of engaging in "vote bank politics."

Trudeau remained non-committal about taking action against these elements, emphasizing Canada's commitment to freedom of expression and peaceful protest. Meanwhile, an anti-India referendum organized at a Canadian gurudwara saw the presence of Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Trudeau's 2021 India trip draws parallels to his controversial 2018 visit. During that visit, he faced criticism for his choice of traditional Indian outfits, the invitation of a former Khalistani terrorist to a Canadian High Commission reception, and the perception that the trip was more of a family vacation than an official visit.

Overall, Trudeau's recent India visit has been marked by diplomatic discomfort and is seen by some as a missed opportunity to strengthen India-Canada ties.

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