Canada's Trudeau spurs criticism, raises eyebrows on India trip

By Andrea Hopkins and Nidhi Verma

 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his wife Sophie Gregoire, daughter Ella Grace and son Xavier pose for photographers during their visit to the holy Sikh shrine of Golden temple in Amritsar, India February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

 

OTTAWA/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Canadian and Indian officials scrambled on Thursday to explain how a convicted Sikh extremist was invited to a New Delhi reception for Justin Trudeau, the latest misstep in the Canadian prime minister's bumpy eight-day trip to India.

 

The tour has been overshadowed by suggestions of a lukewarm reception by the government and a series of photo ops featuring the Trudeau family in coordinated Indian attire that have raised eyebrows in both countries.

 

The latest flashpoint, a swiftly cancelled invitation by the Canadian delegation to Jaspal Atwal -- convicted in 1986 of the attempted murder of an Indian politician visiting Canada -- came just days after Trudeau had assured his hosts he would not support anyone trying to revive a separatist movement in India.

 

"The fact that an invitation, which was already extended to Mr. Atwal, has been withdrawn, it basically shows (Canada) have taken into account the concerns which we have," said Raveesh Kumar, a spokesman for India's Ministry of External Affairs.

 

Atwal's invitation was withdrawn once his links to an organisation banned in India came to light. Trudeau told reporters on Thursday that a Canadian parliamentarian on the trip had taken responsibility for the mistake.

 

A largely unrecognized figure in India, Atwal was a trending topic on Twitter across the subcontinent on Thursday after images of him in the company of Trudeau's wife and other Canadian ministers surfaced online.

 

The trip, partly aimed at shoring up support for Trudeau's Liberals among the politically important ethnic vote in key regions, has also been criticized for being light on official government business.

 

Support from Canada's large and concentrated South Asian community helped Trudeau's Liberals gain power in 2015, and all three of Canada's main parties -- including the New Democratic Party, lead by Jagmeet Singh -- are courting the Indo-Canadian vote ahead of the 2019 election.

 

"I don't know if Justin Trudeau thinks that international trade missions are reality TV shows, but they are not," Conservative party leader Andrew Scheer, Trudeau's main opponent, told Reuters.

 

Trudeau on Tuesday cited C$1 billion in deals between Canadian and Indian companies announced in Mumbai, and said the trip was "not just about political ties" but improving business and cultural ties.

 

The Atwal controversy came as the Trudeau family's ornate traditional Indian attire raised eyebrows, with the prime minister at one point donning formal wear typically worn by bridegrooms.

 

"FYI we Indians don't dress like this every day sir, not even in Bollywood," tweeted Indian politician Omar Abdullah.

 

Earlier this week, Trudeau rejected suggestions that he had been snubbed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

Modi tweeted a welcome to Trudeau late on Thursday, on the eve of a bilateral meeting between the two, six days after the Canadian leader arrived in the country, adding: "I hope PM @JustinTrudeau and his family had a very enjoyable stay so far."

 

(Additional reporting by Euan Rocha in Mumbai and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Sandra Maler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-02-23

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

"FYI we Indians don't dress like this every day sir, not even in Bollywood," tweeted Indian politician Omar Abdullah.

Remember when American's used to put Canadian flags on their backpacks so they could skip all the anti American hostility. Well I think the trend might reverse now. Not for anti Canadian sentiment but rather just deep and crushing embarrassment.

Next, a Sukhothai era costume while visiting Thailand. 

Edited February 23, 20188 yr by kotsak

Do Canadians cringe whenever that man appears anywhere, in anticipation of his latest gaff?

However, if one of his staff suggested the ethnic dress as a "good idea", they should be swiftly transferred to an "inactive" post.

I feel for his children that will be humiliated when back at school over that photo. They don't look very happy to be paraded like performing ponies at a show, and the girl especially so.

Well after seeing that photo of Trudeau making a plonker of himself, and his poor kids, it makes some of Prayuts photo ops look sane.

18 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Well after seeing that photo of Trudeau making a plonker of himself, and his poor kids, it makes some of Prayuts photo ops look sane.

Moronic leadership is an intensely competitive field these days.

I don't think Justin Trudeau has yet realised that, as prime minister, he is supposed to drop being a drama teacher and concentrate on running his country, not combine the two functions.

 

A frighteningly stupid man - I mean person.

In a sensible world, IMO the only vote he gets in the next election will be his own.

Mr T is an embarrassment to all of peoplekind.

Looking on from afar (Oz & Thailand) I had long thought he looked a bit lightweight. But his appalling performance at the recent signing ceremony for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which turned into a non-signing ceremony because of his last-minute change of mind, and now this latest ridiculous performance - Life as a fashion statement - suggests that there really isn't much between the ears.

 

Sad for Canada.

He and that Macron. 

7 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

Moronic leadership is an intensely competitive field these days.

Trudeau is somewhat ahead of the French one now.

10 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

Remember when American's used to put Canadian flags on their backpacks so they could skip all the anti American hostility. Well I think the trend might reverse now. Not for anti Canadian sentiment but rather just deep and crushing embarrassment.

Trudeau is a Disgrace to the Canadian People. Personally, I hate him so much it hurts ...................

Troll post reported and removed. 

 

19 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

Remember when American's used to put Canadian flags on their backpacks so they could skip all the anti American hostility. Well I think the trend might reverse now. Not for anti Canadian sentiment but rather just deep and crushing embarrassment.

Compared to Trump? Really, come on man!

This is all about the new Sikh leader of the federal N.D.P. and a few ridings with a high concentration of sikh voters. The Sikh radical was invited by a B.C. Liberal M.P. and someone in the PMO should lose their job over it. Those Tories out there that think young Justin is on his way out that is wishfull thinking. He is running well ahead in the polls and 9 out of 10 Canadian voters can not name the C.P.C. leader. They do remember this guy though.

His wife is fine. May the force be with her

 

1 hour ago, pegman said:

Compared to Trump? Really, come on man!

Well I can't pass for Mexican

Given people don't normally change their spots, the Canadians presumably knew what they were getting when they voted for him, so own goal then.

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Given people don't normally change their spots, the Canadians presumably knew what they were getting when they voted for him, so own goal then.

No worries about Canada, we've pretty much stomped conservative governments out of exsistance both federally and provincially. Country's never been in better shape.

6 minutes ago, pegman said:

No worries about Canada, we've pretty much stomped conservative governments out of exsistance both federally and provincially. Country's never been in better shape.

I am so very glad I won't be there to watch it burn.

Either way, makes little or no difference to the economic activity. The basis of that does not change, the difference is only in which cronies get the deals.  To "own" and exploit the natural resources.

Myself, given that Trudeau is such a preacher, I would like to confront him about the hypocrisy regarding "reservations". That applies not simply to him, of course, but presumably to most Canadians.

And I hope the situation of being a semi/neo colony of Britain is an ongoing issue, and we just do not hear about it in international/syndicated news.

Edited February 24, 20188 yr by Cat ji

Trudeau's next stop: France. What outfit will he wear?

 

 

Edited February 24, 20188 yr by RickBradford

Trudeau's next stop: France. What outfit will he wear?
 
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All he needs to do is not have a shower for about 2 months, will fit in nicely.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

On 23/02/2018 at 8:33 AM, webfact said:

Trudeau family's ornate traditional Indian attire raised eyebrows, with the prime minister at one point donning formal wear typically worn by bridegrooms.

I am embarrassed by his stupidity.  He certainly has overdone the costume theme and embarrassed himself and our nation trying to dance the bhangra. 

What world do we live in when looking like a high-school drama sweetheart and defending all the rightest ideas with religious rigour and vapid complacency is no longer enough to be systematically acclaimed.