INDIA-CANADA

Trudeau accorded ceremonial welcome, meeting with Modi today

Looking forward to meeting Trudeau, Modi had tweeted last evening

Trudeau Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau as his family members look on during the ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi | PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet his Canadia counterpart Justin Trudeau at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday. Close to a week after he landed in India, Trudeau was given the guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi in the presence of Modi. 

Tweeting on the eve of his meeting, Modi said, "I look forward to meeting PM @JustinTrudeau tomorrow and holding talks on further strengthening India-Canada relations in all spheres. I appreciate his deep commitment to ties between our two countries".

Trudeau's India visit courted controversies ever since he landed in India with his family on Saturday. The cold shoulder accorded to Trudeau was an aberration from an otherwise warm Modi, especially when it comes to visiting state representatives. Prime Minister Modi not receiving Trudeau at the airport, a courtesy he extended to some world leaders in the past, had triggered speculation in Canada that it was a snub to him for the rising Sikh radicalism in that country.

And international media was quick to take not of this "perceived snub" by the Indian government. This was followed by the news of a Sikh extremist convicted of murder being invited for dinner with Trudeau by the Canadian High Commissioner's residence in New Delhi. Though the invitation was later withdrawn, it had led to matters turning from bad to worse for the Canadian prime minister. 

However, government sources had strongly rejected the speculation, insisting normal diplomatic protocol has been extended to Trudeau.

"I hope PM @JustinTrudeau and his family had a very enjoyable stay so far. I particularly look forward to meeting his children Xavier, Ella-Grace, and Hadrien," the PM said in another tweet.

He also posted a picture from his 2015 Canada visit when he had met Trudeau and Ella-Grace.

(With inputs from PTI)