New Delhi: Condemning the aggression shown to Indian diplomats and Hindu temples in his country as “totally unacceptable”, Canada’s opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has vowed to repair ties with India if voted to power as he slammed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for leaving Ottawa’s reputation on the global stage “in tatters”.
In an interview with Namaste Radio Toronto, Poilievre highlighted that, after eight years, “Justin Trudeau is not worth the cost” of bad ties with India.
The Conservative Party head added that Trudeau’s “incompetence” and “unprofessional” behaviour has seen Ottawa in dispute with “almost” every major power in the world, including India.
“I think there should be criminal charges laid against anyone who attacks either the property or people at Hindu mandirs, just like anywhere else,” he said in response to a question about reports of Hindu temples being vandalised in Canada.
“We need a professional relationship with the Indian government. India is the largest democracy on Earth. And it’s fine to have our disagreements and to hold each other accountable, but we have to have a professional relationship, and that is what I will restore when I’m Prime Minister of this country,” Poilievre said.
On 18 September, Trudeau claimed that his government was investigating “credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar” and expelled an Indian diplomat posted in Ottawa.
India rejected Trudeau’s allegations, calling them “absurd and motivated”, and expelled the head of the Canadian intelligence posted at the High Commission in New Delhi.
As reported by ThePrint earlier, Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India on 19 October after the Indian government sought ‘parity’ in diplomatic presence.
Canada accused India of contravening international law, including the Vienna Convention — a charge denied by New Delhi.
On Sunday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar explained how the safety of Indian diplomats in Canada was repeatedly threatened and as the “most fundamental aspect” of the Vienna Convention, it has been challenged in Ottawa.
Poilievre’s remarks came at a time when Jaishankar highlighted that the bilateral relationship has been going through a “difficult” phase and that this stems from problems with a “certain segment of Canadian politics”.
“Let me make three comments there. The relationship right now is going through a difficult phase. But I do want to say the problems we have are with a certain segment of Canadian politics and the policies, which flow from that. So, I want people to understand in a sense the extent of the issue,” Jaishankar said, without naming Trudeau or the Liberal Party of Canada.
Also Read: Opposition’s Poilievre more popular in Canada as Trudeau’s domestic woes persist, shows opinion poll
‘Trudeau is an embarrassment’
Poilievre, in his interview, pointed out that Trudeau’s policies have left Canada’s reputation on the global stage “in tatters” and named three countries where the Prime Minister’s foreign policy has failed.
“Beijing is interfering in our country, openly running police stations in Canada to abuse our people. Justin Trudeau is considered a laughing stock in India, the world’s biggest democracy. President Biden is walking all over Trudeau and treating him like a doormat and slapping him around like a rag doll,” Poilievre said.
“Every day, in every way, Justin Trudeau is an embarrassment. He’s an embarrassment to Canada and all Canadians, and we can’t keep him as Prime Minister.”
The opposition leader also condemned attacks against Hindus and Hindu places of worship in Canada. “Well, conservatives share the Hindu values of faith, family and freedom. Freedom includes the ability to worship without fear or vandalisation. And I strongly condemn all of the attacks on Hindu mandirs, the threats against Hindu leaders,” he said.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
Also Read: Trudeau ‘laughing stock’ in India, ‘doormat’ for Biden — what Canada oppn leader told radio station