“It was this phrase in particular that incensed Indian commentators, who accused Trudeau of hypocrisy given his government’s hardline actions against anti-mandate blockades in early 2022. (National Post)
And this from a prime minister who froze the bank accounts of truckers in the 2022 Freedom Convoy who protested peacefully in Ottawa against his COVID 19 mandates, and has now caused a 16-day trial against Convoy leaders, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber.
“As the Canadian delegation remained stranded in New Delhi on Sunday, Trudeau’s domestic opponents used the abortive Indian trip to obliquely criticize the current state of Canadian foreign policy. (National Post)
“Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre — who had just concluded a triumphant party convention in Quebec City held amid surging Tory poll numbers — marked the India trip with a uniquely backhanded social media post.
“Putting partisanship aside, no one likes to see a Canadian prime minister repeatedly humiliated & trampled upon by the rest of the world,” he wrote."
Some of us wouldn’t count on that, Mr. Poilievre, being too frustrated that because Trudeau bought off a majority of the Canadian media, and that it took the India media to show what and who the Canadian Prime Minister truly is.
“The G20 is the second time that Trudeau has made an official visit to India as prime minister, and with similar results to the first. (National Post)
“Trudeau’s visit to the country in 2018 was widely lampooned by Indians due to the Canadian prime minister repeatedly dressing in over-the-top Indian garb at photo ops.
“While Trudeau was more diplomatic about addressing Indian concerns over Khalistani extremism on the 2018 visit, the trip would feature Canada inviting a man to an official Mumbai event who had been convicted in connection with a Khalistani terror plot.
Justin Trudeau's 'Bollywood' wardrobe amuses Indians (BBC, Feb. 22, 2018)
“The Canadian first family has worn traditional Indian outfits no fewer than three times on their trip so far.
“The first time was while they visited the Sabarmati ashram, the residence of Mahatma Gandhi in the western state of Gujarat. The family, wearing colourful casual kurta shirts and garlands of flowers around their necks, posed in front of a traditional spinning wheel before visiting the Akshardam temple where they posed some more with bemused Indian trustees."