NEW DELHI: Canadian Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagné on Thursday stayed away from the G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) hosted by India amid a diplomatic row between the two countries, though Ottawa had earlier confirmed it would attend the meet.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla told reporters on Friday last week that Canada had confirmed its participation in the P20 being held in the Indian capital on October 12-14. Two people familiar with developments on the Indian side said Gagné had decided to skip the meet but didn’t give details.
The reasons for Canada’s decision not to attend the P20 could not immediately be ascertained. When external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was asked about the matter at a regular media briefing, he only said the Canadian speaker “could not attend”.
The development comes amid continuing tensions between India and Canada over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation last month that Indian government agents were linked to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India dismissed the allegation as “absurd”. Nijjar, designated a terrorist by India, was gunned down by unidentified men in the parking lot of a gurdwara in Surrey town.
Also Read: Diplomatic conversation with India remains ‘private’, says Canada foreign minister
{{/usCountry}}Also Read: Diplomatic conversation with India remains ‘private’, says Canada foreign minister
{{/usCountry}}India-Canada ties, already under strain over the activities of Khalistani elements based on Canadian soil, were taken to a fresh low by Trudeau’s allegation. Both sides expelled a senior diplomat each and New Delhi subsequently sought parity in diplomatic presence through a significant reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats in India.
While inaugurating the pre-summit event of P20 on Thursday Birla said no country is untouched by the effects of climate change. Addressing the delegates, he said India’s ancient books illustrate that those who protect nature will also be protected by nature.
Referring to the impact of climate change on humankind, he said, “In the changing context, there is no country in the world that remains untouched by the ill effects of climate change. We are aware of the challenges faced by the world. Therefore, firm efforts in this direction are the need of the hour.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the concept of LiFe (lifestyle for the environment) to address these issues, he said. “Mission LiFe inspires everyone to adopt a lifestyle that includes reducing, reusing and recycling. There is a need to adopt a lifestyle that does not harm the environment,” Birla added.
The environment and climate change are related to the mutual future of the world and environment-related topics have been placed at the centre of discussions at the P20, he pointed out. “I think that this summit in the mother of democracy will help in giving new directions to new parameters. Environment and climate change are related to the mutual future of the world. So we have kept the environment-related topics at the centre of discussion at the P20 summit,” Birla said.
There has been extensive discussion in Parliament on lifestyle for environment, and laws have been enacted when necessary, but merely making policies and laws is not enough to address this problem. “...We all need to contribute collectively by bringing a change in our daily routine,” he said.
PM Modi will inaugurate the session on Friday. The P20 is a forum of speakers and presidents of parliaments from G20 countries that discusses and shares best practices on issues of global importance.
In line with the theme of India’s G20 presidency, the theme of the P20 Summit is “Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future”. The event is being attended by speakers of parliaments of G20 member states and guest countries. The Pan-African Parliament will take part in this summit for the first time after the African Union’s inclusion in the G20 in September.
The thematic sessions will cover issues such as transformation in people’s lives through public digital platforms, women-led development, accelerating SDGs, and sustainable energy transition.
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