DNA Edit: Message in a bear hug

Going by the warm reception accorded to the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, it seems that bilateral ties are back on an even keel. Though the storm clouds over convicted Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal’s India visit and his attendance at a Trudeau event in Mumbai aren’t likely to disappear, PM Modi’s bonhomie with the Trudeau family on Rajpath suggested that differences can be resolved through mutual trust and concerted efforts on the ground. The bear-hug, the tweets and the attendant optics underscore a camaraderie that has its roots in PM Modi’s Canada visit in 2015.

India, however, remains firm on the issue of Sikh radicalism striking deep roots in Canadian soil since it has a direct bearing on India’s security and integrity. Curiously, many political commentators had observed that the Indian PM, who has often broken protocol to endear himself to visiting dignitaries, had exercised unusual restraint in Trudeau’s case. It was widely felt that Modi was unhappy with the way Canada has dealt with India’s security concerns. Without delving into the merits of such remarks, it can be said that Trudeau’s visit also yielded generous returns for both countries.

India-Canada investment pacts, worth more than a billion dollars, will create high profile jobs in both countries. It’s true, as Trudeau has mentioned recently, that “there are tremendous connections between Canada and India, whether it is natural resources or tech sector like IT, creativity, pharmaceutical”. The developments on Friday testify to the efficacy of those connections. His meeting with Modi — preceded by a session with Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj — not only covered a wide array of issues, including trade and investment, security and cybersecurity, energy and people-to-people contacts, but also led to the signing of key agreements. It’s a significant step in the direction of bolstering India’s relationship with Canada.

What’s also commendable is India’s calibrated approach to the thorny issues of Khalistani terrorism. It has remained firm about its core concerns without being unyielding. To a considerable extent, Trudeau’s statement that Canada supported “one united India” had helped in boosting India’s confidence. Given the current geopolitical climate and the mounting threat of terrorism, India needed to send a forceful message to the world that New Delhi would not put up with the slightest threat to its security. In this regard, niceties shouldn’t come in the way of talking shop.

The country can’t afford to be seen as a soft target for subversive activities — be it for homegrown and Pakistan-based Islamic terror outfits or Khalistani fringe elements operating from Canada. Remarkably, India has blended soft diplomacy with a tough stance to make its position clear. Trudeau is most welcome in this rich and diverse country that epitomises pluralism, provided his administration addresses India’s legitimate concerns.