Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began the first full day of his week-long trip to India by taking a tour of the famed Taj Mahal, followed by a visit to an elephant rescue sanctuary north of Agra.
Trudeau, his wife Sophie Gregoire and their three children posed for a family portrait before marvelling at the legendary marble monument frequently visited by foreign leaders during roadshows to India.
Trudeaus visit the Taj MahalThe Prime Minister is in India for a state visit. This is his delegation arriving at the Taj Mahal for a tour.
Posted by CBC Politics on Sunday, 18 February 2018
Canadian Prime Minister visit to Taj Mahal on Sunday turned out to be a nostalgic one. He had visited Taj in 1983, but his father and the then Canada’s prime minister, Pierre Trudeau, who was on an official visit to India, had not accompanied him to the iconic monument because of his busy schedule.
Visiting Taj 35 years later with his wife and their three children brought back many memories of his earlier visit to the monument, which his father had missed because of his official meetings. Perhaps that’s why he said, “For me to be able to be here on an official trip while bringing my kids with me to share this is really special and being able to enjoy this as a dad with my kids is really nice”.
I was about Xav's age when I first visited the Taj Mahal almost 35 years ago... and it's amazing to be back with him & the family on Day 1 of our trip to India. pic.twitter.com/EN6VnkYBU2
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 18, 2018
In Taj visitors’ book, he wrote, “Thank you for the wonderful visit to one of the most beautiful places in the world”. His wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau got emotional after seeing Taj Mahal and said, “that’ it’s Incredible”. His three minor children also signed the visitor's book, with the youngest one, Hadrien Trudeau, who just three years old, scribbling his initial ‘H’ on it.
Message by Canadian Prime Minister #JustinTrudeau in the visitor's book at Taj Mahal in Agra,@JustinTrudeau @CanadianPM @Canada @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/S8Ar9vg1rZ
— News World India (@NewsWorldIN) February 18, 2018
Day 1 in #Agra to promote our countries' economic and cultural ties, and share the wonders Canada has to offer with our neighbours across the ocean - all while discovering some of #India's own beauty! #TajMahal #CanadaInIndia🇨🇦🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/gHr2aEiec1
— Bardish Chagger (@BardishKW) February 18, 2018
Trudeau mentioned about his earlier visit to Taj to the ASI officials who accompanied him. He didn’t forget to tell them that his father had missed the trip because of his official engagements.
Canada’s first family was visibly thrilled by their visit and they happily posed for photographs for the media. The family also got themselves clicked on the iconic Diana bench, with the magnificent Taj behind them.
The youngest Trudeau was a delight for the media photographers, as he happily posed and smiled for them. Hadrien was seen running around the monument and enjoying the time with his parents and siblings. He often used to run to his father who used to take him in his lap and lift him over his head, much to the kid’s delight.
A few months ago I visited the Taj Mahal for the first time in my life. Incredible to return, this time with @JustinTrudeau. https://t.co/x0bX0XZkwg
— Amarjeet Sohi (@SohiAmarjeet) February 18, 2018
Team. #breathtaking #TajMahal #Canada #India pic.twitter.com/QCJ7FjXYty
— Katie Telford (@telfordk) February 18, 2018
The Taj Mahal w @JustinTrudeau pic.twitter.com/9cjmaHUFBX
— Adam Scotti 🇨🇦📷 (@AdamScotti) February 18, 2018
ASI official guide, Nitin Singh who accompanied with PM and his family told that PM asked about the mythical story of the Black Taj Mahal. He said PM Justin was very interested to know about the marble carvings.
A day in Agra w @justintrudeau pic.twitter.com/C1sKo1Ovsl
— Adam Scotti 🇨🇦📷 (@AdamScotti) February 18, 2018
This was my first visit to the Taj Mahal despite being born in India! It was such a privilege to spend time at this spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site. #tajmahal pic.twitter.com/7SpKc3vK7I
— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) February 18, 2018
What a great way to kick off our #India trip! The @TajMahal never fails to amaze me with its architectural and cultural beauty. Can’t wait to dive into the upcoming week. #cdnpoli https://t.co/VumrjC6lHx
— Navdeep Bains (@NavdeepSBains) February 18, 2018
After visiting the monument, the family took a break at CISF Commandant office, where they changed into fresh clothes and left for wildlife sanctuary (elephant conservation and care centre) in Farah, Mathura.
.@WildlifeSOS is doing important work rescuing captive Asian elephants across India, and giving them a new chance at life. Thanks for the very warm welcome at your sanctuary today. pic.twitter.com/Ghy2zCV5ss
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 18, 2018
Trudeau arrived in New Delhi at sundown on Saturday with his family. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, and kids Xavier, 10, Ella-Grace, 9, and Hadrien, 3, emerged from the plane and delivered a traditional Indian welcome greeting, with their hands clasped together and their heads slightly bowed, to the delight of officials and Indian media waiting on the ground.
Hadrien did his best to steal the show, making off down the red carpet with the flowers handed to his father by an Indian official, leaving the rest of his family to manage the receiving line.
Trudeau's trip to India included a refuelling stop in Rome, where he got out the kinks out midway through the 20-hour long journey by going for a run with his protective detail.
I was thrilled to begin our trip to #India with a visit to the @TajMahal! It was an absolute privilege. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/60FFt4TeZa
— Kirsty Duncan (@KirstyDuncanMP) February 18, 2018
The seven-day Indian official visit is a mix of business meetings, round tables on education, women's rights and human rights, tours of popular Indian sites and a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the week.
"Wheels up for India and a busy visit, focused on creating good jobs and strengthening the deep connection between the people of our two countries," Trudeau posted on his official Twitter account, along with a photo of the family boarding the plane in Ottawa.
The Trudeaus were greeted in Delhi by Nadir Patel, Canada's high commissioner in India, his wife, Jennifer Graham, and their two-year-old daughter, Nylah.
Vikas Swarup, the Indian high commissioner to Canada, was also on the red carpet for the arrival, live tweeting shots waiting for the plane to land and once it was on the ground, saying that "a long wait is finally over."
A long wait is finally over as Prime Minister of Canada @JustinTrudeau accompanied by Madame Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and their three children arrive in India on a State Visit pic.twitter.com/rzyAa4r1gF
— Vikas Swarup (@VikasSwarup) February 17, 2018
Indian Minister of State for agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was the first to shake hands with the Trudeau family and was the one who gave Trudeau the bouquet Hadrien later absconded with.
Shekhawat's presence is notable because among the concerns Trudeau is being asked to raise with the Indian government on this visit is recent Indian import taxes applied to chickpeas and other pulse crops.
Reunited with my colleagues in India! Looking forward to spending the next few days here to further strengthen Canada and India’s strong cultural and economic ties. 🇨🇦🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/F51fmxhFOS
— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) February 18, 2018
A duty of 30 per cent was applied to chickpeas and lentils just before Christmas and was raised to 40 per cent on Feb. 6, with the Indian government citing falling international market prices for the crops, abundant production elsewhere and a negative impact on Indian producers and domestic Indian prices of cheap imports.
A 50 per cent import duty was applied to yellow peas in November.
Conservative International Trade Critic Dean Allison was critical of Trudeau Friday for not including Canadian Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on this trip to try and address the import duties. Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, Small Business and Tourism Minister Bardish Chagger, Science Minister Kirsty Duncan and Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi all travelled with Trudeau to India. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan will meet him in the country.
Allison said Trudeau needs to explain what he plans to do to fight these duties when he isn't bringing his agriculture minister to the table, given that India is an important export market for Canadian pulse producers.
Trade between India and Canada has more than doubled to $8.4 billion in the last decade. India is also the second largest source of immigrants to Canada and is a significant source of international students enrolling in Canadian universities.
Security is also going to be on the agenda on this trip regarding defence and counter-terrorism efforts. Daniel Jean, Trudeau's national security adviser, was in India last week to meet with his Indian counterpart to work on parts of the visit.
The issue of Indian politicians fearing there is a rise in Sikh separatist extremism behaviour coming out of Canada is also going to hang over this visit.
