Punjab CM Amarinder Singh meets Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, raises Khalistan issue

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and raised the issue of Khalistan and its funding.

"I raised the issue of Khalistan as it's the primary issue, as there is money coming in from various countries including Canada," said Singh.

It felt great to hear Canadian Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau appreciate the progress made by Punjab under the @INCPunjab government. Thank you Mr Trudeau for your kind words. I sincerely value your opinion and look forward to your support in taking the state’s progress forward. — Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 21, 2018

He spoke to the Canadian PM about the militancy concerns, to which Trudeau assured that he would look into the matter.

"I took up with Canadian PM, the militancy concerns we have and he has assured us that they will look into this matter," he added.

Really happy to receive categorical assurance from Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau that his country does not support any separatist movement. His words are a big relief to all of us here in India and we look forward to his government’s support in tackling fringe separatist elements. — Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 21, 2018

In the meeting that took place in Amritsar, both the leaders also discussed the strong bond that exists between the two places, largely due to an influential Punjabi community settled in the western nation.

Besides the Trudeau-Amarinder meeting, which remained uncertain till Monday evening, the other highlight was the Chief Minister meeting Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, who was born in Punjab`s Hoshiarpur district and is the first Sikh to handle the defence portfolio of a western country.

Amarinder had refused to meet the Canadian Defence Minister in April 2017 during the latter`s visit to the state and even dubbed him and other ministers of Punjab-origin in the Trudeau government as 'Khalistani sympathisers'. 

On Wednesday, the Chief Minister not only met Sajjan but also shook hands with him and both leaders smiled at each other.

The Amarinder Singh government went all out to accord a red carpet welcome to Trudeau and his entourage, including his wife and children, during their four hour trip to the Sikh holy city of Amritsar.

Trudeau, who is on a week-long visit to India, arrived in Amritsar from Mumbai on Wednesday morning. He and his family offered prayers at the Golden Temple complex, at the holiest of Sikh shrines in the 'Harmandir Sahib'.

(With inputs from agencies)