JOIN USPunjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday announced that he would meet Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Amritsar amid murmurs that the visiting dignitary was given the cold shoulder over pro-Khalistani movement allegedly run from Canadian soil.
Singh, who had publicly snubbed Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan when he visited India last April, said he was looking forward to meeting Trudeau when he visits Amritsar on Wednesday to offer prayers at the Golden Temple.
"I'm hopeful that this meeting will help strengthen the close Indo-Canadian business ties as well as the deep-rooted people-to-people relations between our two countries, Singh said.
Trudeau's low key reception since he landed in New Delhi on Saturday night had triggered chatter in a section of the international media about the Canadian prime minister being snubbed by Indian authorities over pro-Khalistan views that the ministers in his government have.
A section of the Canadian media also pointed out that Trudeau was received by junior minister Gajendra Shekhawat on arrival in Delhi, unlike other visitors who were personally received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The absence of Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat during Trudeau's visit to Taj Mahal in Agra and the Ahmedabad leg of the tour respectively also set tongues wagging.
Amarinder was also riled at Canada's denial of permission to him to hold "interactive meetings" with Punjabis in Toronto and Vancouver ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections last year.