NEW DELHI: Standing beside his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that any attempts to challenge India's sovereignty and unity will not be tolerated.
"There should be no space for those who misuse religion for political motives and promote separatism. We will not tolerate those who challenge unity and integrity of our countries," PM Modi said as he addressed a joint press meet with the Canadian PM.
PM Modi's remark assumes significance in the light of the
Trudeau government's "soft stand" on pro-Khalistan+
groups based in Canada.
Earlier in the week, a major row erupted after PM Trudeau's wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, was photographed
standing with a convicted pro-Khalistan terrorist+
, Jaspal Atwal, at a Mumbai event.
Atwal, who was a member of the now-banned International Sikh Youth Federation, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for trying to kill the then Punjab cabinet minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu on Vancouver Island in 1986. Atwal later even confessed he was the shooter.
Atwal was even invited to a dinner-reception in Delhi celebrating the Canada-India ties on the occasion of
PM Trudeau's visit to India.
The photograph became a major source of embarrassment for PM Trudeau who is currently in India for a week-long visit.
The Canadian Prime Minister was quick to cancel the dinner invite and said that the matter was being taken "extremely seriously".
"Obviously, we take this extremely seriously. He should never have received an invitation. As soon as we received the information we rescinded it, a Member of Parliament had included this individual," Trudeau told media persons.
Today, after their nearly two-hour long meeting, Modi, while addressing a joint media event with the Canadian prime minister, said they discussed the entire gamut of the bilateral partnership.
Observing that Trudeau has visited various parts of India in last few days, Modi said the Canadian leader must have experienced the diversity of the country.
On his part, Trudeau described India as a natural partner for commercial cooperation.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the Canadian prime minister and discussed various issues of mutual interest.
Swaraj had a warm meeting with Trudeau and discussed ways to strengthen and deepen the partnership between the two countries, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
(With inputs from agencies)
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