Canada PM Expresses Concern Over Farmers’ Protest In India

New Delhi: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has become the first world leader to comment on the farmers’ protest in India when he expressed concern over the ongoing agitation against the new farm laws.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t start also by recognising the news coming out of India about the protest by farmers. The situation is concerning and we’re all very worried about family and friends,” the Canadian PM said during a Facebook video interaction.

The interaction was organised by Canadian MP Bardish Chagger to mark Gurupurab (birth anniversary of Guru Nanak) on Monday, Hindustan Times reported.

Canadian ministers Navdeep Bains, Harjit Sajjan and members of the Sikh community also joined Trudeau in the interaction.

“Let me remind you, Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest. We believe in the importance of dialogue and that’s why we’ve reached out through multiple means directly to the Indian authorities to highlight our concerns,” Trudeau said.

There was no immediate response to Trudeau’s remarks from Indian officials. People familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity that the comments appeared to be aimed at Canada’s influential Indian-origin diaspora.

Earlier, former English cricketer Monty Panesar had expressed solidarity with the farmers’ protest and criticised the three farm bills passed by the government.