Justin Trudeau: Stranded Canadian PM leaves India after plane snag fixed

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to India was extended by two days due to an unexpected problem with his aircraft, which kept him grounded in India’s capital after the conclusion of the G20 summit. Originally scheduled to depart on Sunday, a mechanical issue caused an embarrassing delay.

Critics both in Canada and on Indian social media seized the opportunity to mock Trudeau for the delay, especially given the tense meeting he had with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This incident has further strained Canada-India relations, which had already been deteriorating in recent months.

Mr. Trudeau’s visit failed to improve the strained ties between the two countries, as he unexpectedly announced a pause in trade treaty talks just days before arriving in Delhi. Protests by Canada’s significant Sikh population have contributed to the growing tensions, as India is concerned about the activities of Sikh separatists and their alleged involvement in the murder of a prominent advocate for Sikh independence in British Columbia.

During their meeting, PM Modi expressed concerns about the “continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada,” accusing them of promoting secessionism and inciting violence. In response, Mr. Trudeau emphasized the importance of respecting the rule of law, democratic principles, and national sovereignty and also discussed foreign interference in Canada’s affairs.

Furthermore, Trudeau’s absence from a weekend dinner for world leaders hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu raised eyebrows, with reports suggesting that no reason was provided by his office. Additionally, some observers noted that he was quick to avoid a handshake with PM Modi.

It remains unclear how Mr. Trudeau spent the extra two days in India, as he had no further diplomatic engagements. Reports suggest he stayed at his hotel during this time.

While neither Mr. Trudeau nor the Indian government has publicly commented on the delay, an Indian minister extended an official send-off, wishing him and his entourage a safe journey back home on behalf of PM Modi’s government.

Regarding the aircraft issue, Canada’s Department of National Defence explained that Mr. Trudeau’s Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-150 Polaris aircraft experienced a maintenance problem, specifically a component that required replacement. A replacement aircraft was dispatched to India to retrieve Mr. Trudeau. It’s worth noting that the CC-150 Polaris is part of an older fleet known to face maintenance issues and is scheduled for replacement.

This incident is not the first time Mr. Trudeau has encountered travel issues related to his plane, as a collision between a plane carrying journalists and an aircraft chartered for his campaign occurred in 2019, though he was not on board at the time.