Trudeau, delegation finally depart India after 'never-ending' G20 trip

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his delegation, who were initially slated to depart from New Delhi on Sunday (September 10), left for Canada on Tuesday afternoon around 2 pm IST (September 11).

This makes Trudeau the last leader to fly out of India after the grand G-20 Summit held in New Delhi on September 9 and 10.

The underlying cause of the delay has been attributedto technical issues with their aircraft.

Earlier, CBC News reported that the Canadian Air Force'sCC-150 Polaris plane, which was on its way to pick up Trudeau, was also diverted to London.

This is not the first instance where challenges have arisen during a visit by the Canadian Prime Minister to India.

In 2018, a convicted personwho had attempted to assassinate an Indian politician on Canadian soil was inadvertently included on Canada's guest list for an event, as reported by Bloomberg.

Amid strained relations between India and Canada, the recent snag incident unfolded. New Delhi has consistently raised concerns over Toronto's inaction against Khalistani elements, often linking it to the Trudeau government's pursuit of a voter base.

During discussions on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his apprehensions to Trudeau regarding the ongoing activities of Khalistani elements on Canadian soil.

The Prime Minister's Office released a statement, noting, "He (PM Modi) conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship."

However, Trudeau remained non-committal regarding action against Khalistani elements, stating, "Canada would always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest."

On the same day, an anti-India referendum was held at the Guru Nanak Singh Gurdwara in Canada's Surrey, featuring the presence of Khalistani separatist and Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Trudeau's India trip was relatively low-key, with his absence from the G20 leaders' dinner on Saturday raising questions. While the Canadian PMO did not disclose the reason, CTV News reported the development.

An awkward moment occurred during the event when G20 leaders paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. PM Modi attempted to hold Trudeau's hand, but Trudeau withdrew, as reported by CTV News.

Trudeau, who did shake PM Modi's hand, was the sole leader to withdraw from the extended handhold, according to the report. When asked about it, the Canadian Prime Minister suggested that people could interpret the gesture as they wished.

Also watch |Justin Trudeau to stay another night in India after plane develops snag

Infrastructure debate

Additionally, the delayed travel arrangements for Prime Minister Trudeau have reignited discussions regarding the ageing state of Canada's official aircraft. Theaircraft, Airbus A310s, dates back to the 1980s and has required refuelling stops for Trudeau's journeys to Asia, often involving layovers in Alaska and Japan, according to Bloomberg.

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