Toronto: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has assured the Sikh community that a “new agreement” has been negotiated with India to add more flights and air routes between the two countries. Trudeau’s remarks came during his address to the Khalsa Day parade during the course of the weekend. He said many Canadians have loved ones in India whom they want to visit often.
“That is why our government has negotiated a new agreement with India to add more flights and air routes between the two countries and we will continue to work with our counterparts to start more flights to other places including Amritsar,” Trudeau said at the Khalsa Day event. Pro-Khalistan slogans were also raised at the event. In November 2022, India and Canada agreed on an agreement that allows specified airlines to operate an unlimited number of flights between the two countries.
Prior to this agreement, the maximum number of flights per week by specified airlines between Canada and India was 35. It is not yet known whether the two countries have discussed further expansion of the agreement signed in 2022. Trudeau angered New Delhi by accusing India of involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist last year. In his address during the event, he also vowed to always protect the rights and freedom of Sikhs in Canada and protect the community against hate and discrimination.
Vaisakhi is also known as Khalsa Day. It marks the Sikh New Year. Trudeau began his speech by saying “Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fatah”. He said, “We will always be there to protect the rights and freedom of about 8,00,000 Canadians of the Sikh community in this country and we will always protect your community from hate and discrimination.
