With their heads covered, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau sat crossed legs as they used rolling pins to make rotis. Their three children also by their side, the family presented a picture perfect moment of the West meeting the East as they did sewa in Golden Temple, Amritsar.
In his 'Passage to India' style tour, Trudeau had landed in Amritsar after covering Agra, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai, savouring the best of desi culture. In his next leg, Trudeaus will be visiting Jama Masjid in Delhi.
It was in Amritsar that Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh told him about the presence of Khalistani elements in his country trying to foment trouble here. Known for his plainspeak, Singh had earlier refused to meet six ministers in Trudeau's cabinet, saying they had links with the separatists, sparking off a big diplomatic row. This also overshadowed Trudeau's visit to India, as hosts appeared to give a cold shoulder to the visiting dignitary. There was no out of the turn welcome for the dashing Canadian PM, but normal protocol rule book etiquette.
After his half an hour meeting with Trudeau in Amritsar, Singh said he had raised the issue of Khalistanis, and the Canadian PM said he will look into it.
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"I raised issue of Khalistan as it's the primary issue, as there is money coming in from various countries including Canada," Captain Amarinder Singh said.
Interestingly, Canada is as important to Punjab, as Punjabis are to Canada. Trudeau had Punjabi, particularly Sikh vote bank, in his country, on his mind. Captain Amarinder Singh also won't have ignored the visiting Canadians as his vote bank here have a soft corner for the Western nation. Moreover, the rich NRIs tend to influence polls.
Realising Khalistan issue was playing on the minds of his hosts, Trudeau had made it clear that he stood for united India. “Canada's strengths is diversity. Wide range of opinions and views are an important part of the success of Canada. We reject violence and hate speech or hateful speech, but at the same time I can reassure everyone that my position, that Canada's position has not changed. We support one, united India,” he said in Mumbai.
On Thursday, he will be speaker at a function in Delhi. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, where host of issues, including investments, job creations, security and anti-terrorism issues will be discussed.
What everyone will be looking forward to is the hug between the PMs. Modi has been expressing his friendship with world leaders with his bear hugs. Any lack of it for Trudeau will certainly go noticed and be construed as snub because of the Khalistan issue.