'Respect each other's concerns,' PM Modi's cautionary response to Canadian PM Trudeau

Newly sworn-in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Jun 10) finally responded to a congratulatory message from his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau after a gap of four days. The PM thanked Trudeadu and urged him to respect India's concerns, in a veiled message amid frosty bilateral ties.

“Thank you Canadian PM for the congratulatory message. India looks forward to working with Canada based on mutual understanding and respect for each other's concerns,” PM Modi wrote on the social media website X.

Modi's response came as relations between New Delhi and Ottawa have strained following Trudeau's allegations last year that agents of the Indian government were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India rejected these allegations as "absurd" and "motivated".

Modi's response to Trudeau's congratulatory messagecame after four days, whereas he responded to similar felicitations from other world leaders promptly.

Trudeau had wished PM Modi on June 6.

“Congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his electoral victory,” Trudeau had tweeted.

“Canada stands ready to work with his government, fostering a relationship anchored in human rights, diversity, and the rule of law.”

In the Nijjar killing case, Canada has so far arrested four individuals, all suspected to be Indian nationals.

Modi's response to Pak PM Shehbaz's message

PM Modi on Monday also responded to Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif's congratulatory message.

"Thank you @cmshehbaz for your good wishes," he wrote on X.

Earlier in the day, Sharif had extended wishes to Modi on X, writing, "Felicitations to @narendramodi on taking oath as the Prime Minister of India."

Former prime minister of Pakistan and ruling party chief Nawaz Sharif also congratulated PM Modi on Monday.

"My warm felicitations to Modi Ji on assuming office for the third time. Your party's success in recent elections reflects the confidence of the people in your leadership. Let us replace hate with hope and seize the opportunity to shape the destiny of the two billion people of South Asia," he wrote on X.

Responding to Nawaz, PM Modi wrote, "Appreciate your message@NawazSharifMNS.The people of India have always stood for peace, security and progressive ideas. Advancing the well-being and security of our people shall always remain our priority."

Notably, Pakistani leader Shehbaz Sharif was not invited to PM Modi's oath-taking ceremony on June 9 whereas leaders of India's all neighbouring countries and the Indian Ocean region were.

The foreign leaders who attended the event include Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.