Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s security team allegedly caused ‘unease’ among Indian security agencies during the recent G20 summit in Delhi after they refused to let him stay in the presidential suite of a hotel, police sources said on Thursday. As per police, the presidential suite was specially booked for the head of the state during the summit.
Trudeau and his contingent stayed at the Lalit Hotel in New Delhi. Sources said a separate suite was booked for him during the summit, in compliance with the Delhi Police’s security arrangements for presidents and world leaders. However, sources have now revealed that the Canadian Prime Minister did not stay at the suite and his security team booked him a normal room instead.
“All such decisions are taken by the Prime Minister’s security teams. Several discussions were held and they were assured that the presidential suite would be apt for their leader but they refused. They could have their own reasons,” a police officer, who refused to be named, said.
Relations between India and Canada have been strained – senior diplomats of both countries were expelled – after Trudeau spoke of an alleged “potential link” between “agents of the Government of India” and the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He also said that he had raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit.
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During the summit, all the Lutyens’ hotels were manned by Delhi Police’s security teams and special cell teams. Officers said they had created special zones for heads of state and their teams inside the hotels. Since the Canadian security team refused to accept the room, different arrangements were made, the police said.
“There were no gaps in the security cover. We dealt with the situation and the leader and his contingent stayed in their respective rooms…,” the officer added.
After the summit, Trudeau was forced to stay in New Delhi for two more days due to a technical snag in his aircraft. A second plane was sent to take him but it was also diverted. The issue was resolved after two days.
