India summons Canadian envoy to accuse Trudeau of encouraging ‘extremist activism’

India says it has summoned the Canadian High Commissioner in Delhi to protest against comments made by prime minister Justin Trudeau about the ongoing farmer protests outside the Indian capital.

Tens of thousands of protesters have marched upon Delhi from farms in neighbouring states of northern India to criticise new reforms that will open up the agricultural sector to privatisation and market forces. Mr Trudeau said earlier this week that the situation was “concerning” and that Canada would always “defend the right to peaceful protest”.

A spokesperson for the Indian government said Mr Trudeau’s comments “constitute an unacceptable interference in our internal affairs”. “Such actions, if continued, would have a seriously damaging impact on ties between India and Canada,” they said.

India’s foreign ministry said the Canadian prime minister’s intervention had “encouraged gatherings of extremist activities in front of our High Commission and Consulates in Canada that raise issues of safety and security”.