Indians Remember The Trudeau Visit As Couple Announce Separation

NEW DELHI (IANS) Indians have sweet memories of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire’s maiden visit to Amritsar in November 2018 during which they offer prayers at the Golden Temple.

Dressed in Indian clothes with their heads covered, the Trudeau couple, along with their children, bowed before the holy book of the Sikhs and tried their hand at making chappatis at the ‘langar’ as they spent over an hour at the shrine.

Responding to an announcement by the Trudeau couple over their separation, the media advisor to former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Raveen Thukral tweeted: “And they separate…memories when Justin Trudeau & Sophie were together in Amritsar with @capt_amarinder in 2018. Lovely family, sad to see them drift apart.”

Thukral, who is currently residing in Canada and was attached with the Chief Minister during the Prime Minister’s visit, shared photos of the Trudeau family.

The couple also met with Bollywood personalities and were seen rocking Indian attire throughout. They made a splash at the Sabarmati Ashram where they did some work on the charka, and met with Ela Bhatt.

The couple, in statements posted on Instagram, said they made the decision after “many meaningful and difficult conversations”.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s office said they both have signed a legal separation agreement.

“They remain a close family, and Sophie and the prime minister are focused on raising their kids in a safe, loving and collaborative environment,” the statement said.

“The family will be together on vacation, beginning next week.”

The Prime Minister’s Office requested respect for their privacy.

The couple got married in 2005 and they have three children, 15-year-old Xavier, 14-year-old Ella-Grace and nine-year-old Hadrien.

Justin Trudeau is the second Canadian Prime Minister to announce a separation while in office.

His father, Pierre Trudeau, separated from wife Margaret while in office in 1977 and the two divorced in 1984.