Justin Trudeau’s ‘unusual’ India visit raises eyebrows, criticised by Canada watchdog
The Canadian prime minister’s schedule includes just half-a-day of official engagements in New Delhi.
world Updated: Feb 19, 2018 20:57 ISTHindustan Times, New Delhi
As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues his eight-day visit to India, the fact that his schedule includes just half-a-day of official engagements in New Delhi is being described as “unusual” by veteran diplomats and criticised by a Canadian watchdog.
A veteran Indian diplomat said in his long experience with bilateral visits, he had never experienced a trip of this nature, where the visiting dignitary spent so little time in official engagements with counterparts in the Indian government.
In addition, he said, it was equally surprising that six cabinet ministers accompanying Trudeau had scant official engagements, except for foreign minister Chrystia Freeland, who will confer with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj ahead of the meeting between the prime ministers in New Delhi on February 23.
The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity since he did not want to appear “churlish”.
The low-key start to the visit on February 17 also raised eyebrows, with commentators noting that Trudeau was received at the Delhi airport by minister of state Gajendra Shekhawat.
This, they noted, was in marked contrast to the warm welcome an