Canadian PM’s golden gift

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 22

In a return gift, Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau gave a gold-plated coin to SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal during his visit to the Golden Temple yesterday.

Stating this, SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh said this 24-karat gold-plated coin with a maple tree crafted on it would be placed in the Central Sikh Museum. “The SGPC president directed to showcase the coin in the museum. The task was given to his personal secretary Jagjeet Singh Jaggi,” he said.

The SGPC had presented Trudeau a specially designed 24-karat gold-plated portrait of Golden Temple, a gold-plated “siri sahib” and miniature of the shrine to the Trudeau family.

Trudeau has also shared his experience at the Golden Temple on his social media page. “Sacred to Sikhs and open to everyone. I don’t think I will ever forget this. Our cabinet ministers, MPs, Sophie and I were profoundly honoured by the welcome and hospitality,” he said.

Taking this visit as an opportunity to deliver a message to curb racial discrimination against Sikhs abroad, SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh said, “Trudeau’s visit to the Golden Temple has spread a positive message of Sikh religion, its philosophy and principles on a global platform.”