New Delhi: As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with his family, reportedly went into hiding in a secret location due to potential security threats as thousands of people in a huge convoy streamed into the capital, Ottawa, to protest against Canada’s vaccine mandates, social media users in India said that Trudeau is receiving a comeuppance for supporting the farmer protests in India that lasted for over a year.
In December 2020, Trudeau had come out in support of the farmers’ protests. India had then termed it “ill-informed” and “unwarranted”.
Canadian news organisation CBC reported Saturday that a planned protest of a trucker convoy, known as the “Freedom Convoy” arrived to stage their dissent in front of the country’s parliament in Ottawa. It added that Trudeau and his family have been relocated to an “undisclosed location” in Ottawa as security concerns rise with the number of protesters expected to cross the 10,000 mark, as estimated by Canadian officials.
The truckers are protesting the Canadian government’s mandate that cross-border truckers, such as those travelling between the US and Canada, must be vaccinated against Covid-19.
It was reported Thursday that Canadian members of parliament may be in danger, as the protestors might target their homes.
Taking note of Trudeau’s taking shelter, Indian social media users recalled how the Canadian PM had supported the farmer protests on the borders of New Delhi.
“Karma Strikes harder,” said Amish Devgan in a tweet, noting that “JustinTrudeau & his family ran away to a secret location due to security threat…”
क्रमों का खेल ….
Karma Strikes harder#Trudeau supported Tractors protests in Delhi last year on Jan 26th,and now #JustinTrudeau & his family ran away to secret location due to security threat. In Canada, #TruckersFreedomProtests intensifies, with lakhs on streets. pic.twitter.com/21ilqyVMsS— Amish Devgan (@AMISHDEVGAN) January 30, 2022
“Karma Returns!” tweeted Major Surendra Poonia, noting Trudeau’s evasive action. “He supported tractors on roads of Delhi now facing same in his own country #TruckersForFreedom2022,” his tweet further said.
Karma Returns !
Truckers protest in Canada intensifies,Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau & his family left for secret place due to security fears.
He supported tractors on roads of Delhi now facing same in his own country#TruckersForFreedom2022 pic.twitter.com/kiy5owpnKP— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) January 30, 2022
“Hello @JustinTrudeau, Thand toh nhi lag rahi?? (Hope you’re not feeling cold?)” gleefully noted another tweet from the handle @rose_k01. It added that Trudeau had encouraged the farmer protests in India and now faced the same thing.
Hello @JustinTrudeau Thand toh nhi lag rahi?? 😂 He Was interfering & encouraging Protest in India & Now facing same in Canada. #TruckersForFreedom2022 #JustinTrudeau pic.twitter.com/3BxizDINCE
— Rosy (@rose_k01) January 30, 2022
Many Sikh truckers join protests
Sikh drivers, considered a ‘driving force’ in the North American trucking business, have also joined in the protests against Canada’s Covid mandates.
However, not all Sikh leaders in Canada, such as Jagmeet Singh, condone the protest, which reportedly has been “hijacked by radical white truckers” opposed to Trudeau for reasons beyond vaccine concerns.
Meanwhile, hours into the protest in Ottawa, what started out as opposition against mandatory vaccination for cross-border truckers had grown into the public protesting the Canadian government’s “overreach” in handling the pandemic, including a demand to repeal all public health measures.
Some statements by protestors included threats of violence and a call to overthrow Trudeau’s government.
Similar to how roads leading to Delhi were blocked due to the long-standing farmer protests on its borders from November 2020 to December 2021, Ottawa, too, had been experiencing long traffic jams, with a major shopping centre in Ottawa having to shut down due to maskless protesters entering the premises.
(Edited by Saikat Niyogi)
Also read: After years of differences, India & Canada seek to reboot relations in PM Trudeau’s third term