NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday confirmed Canada’s presence in the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20), which will be held in Delhi from October 12 to 14.
This comes despite the rising tension between the two countries following Canada’s PM statement accusing India of having a link in the killing of its Sikh national Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was known to be a prominent face in the Khalistani movement.
BREAKING: Loksabha Speaker @ombirlakota confirms that #Canada will be part of P20 hosted by India amid tension between the two countries.
He says, “all countries have been invited just now Canada Senate Speaker has sent confirmation”
Reports: @urvashikhona
Photo… pic.twitter.com/GeDrKpjwOf— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) October 6, 2023
“All countries have been invited, just now Canada’s Senate Speaker has sent confirmation to us,” Birla said in response to a question about Canada’s participation in P20.
The Lok Sabha Speaker also informed that the key narrative of the P20 meeting is ‘India as the mother of democracy’.
The P20 is a forum of Speakers and Presidents of Parliaments from G20 countries. It provides a platform for parliamentary leaders to discuss and share best practices on issues of global importance.
Canada’s participation in the P20 is a sign that the two countries are still willing to engage with each other despite the recent diplomatic spat.