Foreign
India calls Trudeau’s comment on farmers’ protest ‘ill-informed’
India on Tuesday reacted strongly to the “ill-informed” comments by Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau on farmers’ protests in India and said the remarks were “unwarranted.”
In a statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Anurag Srivastava, said the comments were ill-informed especially pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic country.
Srivastava also added that the best diplomatic conversations were not misrepresented for political purposes.
Srivastava’s remarks came after Trudeau expressed concern about the ongoing farmers’ protest in India against three farm laws and said Ottawa had reached out to the Indian authorities to highlight the same.
The statement said Trudeau had spoken during a Facebook video interaction organised by Canadian MP Bardish Chagger to mark Gurupurab or the 551st anniversary of Guru Nanak.
It quoted Trudeau as saying on Monday (local time) that Canada would always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest.
In response to a media query on comments relating to farmers in India, Srivastava said: “We have seen some ill-informed comments by Canadian leaders relating to farmers in India.
“Such comments are unwarranted, especially when pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic country. It is also best that diplomatic conversations are not misrepresented for political purposes.”
Farmers are protesting in Delhi and its border areas against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020.
They are also protesting against Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Contact: info@royalnews.com.ng