Are India-Canada ties strained? This is what Justin Trudeau said

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday said his country recognises India as an extraordinarily important economy in the world. Addressing the media shortly after he held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Trudeau said India is an important partner to Canada.

"We recognise that India is an extraordinarily important economy in the world and an important partner to Canada on everything from fighting climate change to creating growth and prosperity for the citizens. There is always a lot of work to do and we will continue to do it," the Canadian Prime Minister said.

Trudeau also said both sides will continue to look at the expansion of existing cooperation.

In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), PM Modi today said he and Trudeau discussed the full range of India-Canada ties across different sectors.

TRUDEAU ON KHALISTANI ELEMENTS

Upon being asked about India's concerns over the increasing activities of the Khalistani elements in Canada, Trudeau said his country will always defend freedom of peaceful protest but at the same time asserted that it will always prevent violence and push back against hatred.

"Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest and it is extremely important to us," he said.

"At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence and to push back against hatred."

"I think on the issue of the community, it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada," Trudeau said.

To a question on Khalistan extremism and "foreign interference", Trudeau said the issues figured in many conversations he and Prime Minister Modi had.