Sukhbir to welcome Trudeau at Golden Temple tomorrow

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 19

Ahead of the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the city on Wednesday, a high-level security squad from Canada today took stock of the arrangements at the Golden Temple complex. 

Trudeau along with his family and a delegation of Canadian ministers will reach the Golden Temple around 11.30 am and will be received formally by SAD president Sukhbir Badal, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal, said SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema.

Dr Roop Singh, SGPC chief secretary, said amid tight security cover, the Canadian PM and his family would take a round of the “parikrama” and pay obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine. The other Canadian ministers would move in a separate security cover.

“This arrangement was done as per Canadian Prime Minister’s wish that he and his family intend to savour the spiritual ambience of the Golden Temple. Two secretary-level officials will accompany them to explain the significance and history of the shrine,” he said.

During his hour-long stay, Trudeau will partake of langar at Guru Ram Das Jee Langar Hall. He will then be honoured at the information centre.

The SGPC has arranged a specially crafted 24-karat gold-plated portrait of the shrine and a gold-plated “Siri Sahib” (a small sword) to be presented to the Canadian PM along with a “siropa” (robe of honour) and a shawl. His wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau will be presented a shawl. A set of religious books, including special literature, and a film on four sahibzaade of Guru Gobind Singh with English subtitles, too, will be presented to the guests.

Meanwhile, not leaving anything to chance, the SGPC and police officials held a series of meetings earlier in the day to discuss the arrangements for the high-profile visit.