India has summoned the Canadian ambassador and recorded protest on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement regarding the farmers’ protest near New Delhi and said that it was an interference in its internal affairs and would severely damage bilateral relations.
Addressing the Indian community in Canada earlier this week, Justice Trudeau said he was concerned about the protests by farmers in the suburbs of 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 said in a statement that “comments on issues related to Indian farmers have caused unacceptable interference in our internal affairs.”
“We expect the Government of Canada to ensure the full security of Indian diplomats and its political leaders to refrain from making statements that legitimize extremist activity,” the statement said.