Updated: Sept 10 ::: Modi conveys to Trudeau strong concerns over anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada

Indian PM conveys to Canadian counterpart Trudeau strong concerns over anti-India activities in that country 

In their meeting, Modi conveyed ".....our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship".  

Asked about India's concerns over the increasing activities of the Khalistani elements in Canada, Trudeau said at a press conference that his country will always defend freedom of peaceful protest but at the same time asserted that it will always prevent violence and push back against hatred. 'Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest and it is extremely important to us," he said. 

"....  it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada," Trudeau said. 

The Canadian prime minister said India is an important partner of Canada in a range of sectors.

Geopolitical issues should not hijack the discussions at G20, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Sunday after assuming the presidency of the bloc of emerging and developed economies.

"We need peace and cooperation instead of conflict," he said soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the G20 presidency to him. The next summit will be held in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024. 'The path that will take us from New Delhi to Rio de Janeiro will require lot of dedication and commitment from everyone,' Lula said.

 

People's leader is good at reading people's pulse !!  

Modi almost makes it official ..... highlights 'Bharat'  !!

Speaking in Hindi, the language spoken by a majority of the population, Modi said “Bharat welcomes the delegates as the President of the G20”.

Last year the G20 leadership was held by Indonesia and the summit concluded in Bali when the baton was handed over to India.

In a bid to give prominence to the country ancient name ‘Bharat’ at international forum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used India as “Bharat” on the placard at the opening of the G20 summit on Saturday.
As Modi declared the summit in New Delhi open on Saturday, he sat behind a table nameplate that read “Bharat”, while the G20 logo had both names – “Bharat” written in Hindi and “India” in English.

Such name plates have used “India” in the past.  

India is also called Bharat, Bharata, Hindustan and even Al Hind — its pre-colonial names — in Indian languages and these are used interchangeably by the public and officially.

While the country has traditionally stuck to using India in titles such as president or prime minister while communicating in English, President Droupadi Murmu earlier this week referred to herself as the “President of Bharat” in a dinner invitation for a reception of G20 leaders, sparking controversy.

Media has begun speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under pressure from his own party BJP, is contemplating a name change from India to Bharat, the Hindu name that existed before the colonial British rule, and announce to the world on the international platform of the high profile G20 meet being attended by world leaders such as US President Joe Biden, UK PM Rishi Sunak, German Chancellor Schultz, French premier Emanuel Macaron, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and Australian Premier Anthony Albanese to give it the international legitimacy it needs .

Many, however, say it is a non issue that Indian Constitution is explicit - 'India, that is Bharat'. 

Likes of Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the PM Economic Advisory Council, either Bharat or India - it's a non issue. Neither it has anything to impose a 'Hindi' name even as in states like West Bengal --- India's original name has been 'Bharat varsha'. 

Of course, while a fuss is being made out -- countries such as Japan have had two names. Nippon is another name for Japan. There is Netherlands and Holland. Turkey recently adopted new name --  Turkiye.