India has summoned the Canadian ambassador and recorded protest on PrimeMinister Justin Trudeau’s statement regarding the farmers’ protest near NewDelhi and said that it was an interference in its internal affairs andwould severely damage bilateral relations.

Addressing the Indian community in Canada earlier this week, JusticeTrudeau said he was concerned about the protests by farmers in the suburbsof New Delhi, most of whom are from the Sikh-majority state of Punjab,against agrarian reform.

According to foreign news agency Reuters, the Indian Foreign Ministry saidin a statement that “comments on issues related to Indian farmers havecaused unacceptable interference in our internal affairs.”

“We expect the Government of Canada to ensure the full security of Indiandiplomats and its political leaders to refrain from making statements thatlegitimize extremist activity,” the statement said.