Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's tour of India has received tepid response from the Narendra Modi government. Today is the second day of Justin Trudeau visit to India but the government has maintained curious silence on the tour.

Gujarat was the second state on Trudeau's itinerary where his schedule included visit to Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, and a discussion on 'Education and Investment Opportunities' with IIM students. He visited Uttar Pradesh yesterday.

The chief ministers of the two BJP-ruled states have stayed away from Trudeau's tour programmes. Trudeau will visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar on February 21.

It was seen as snub by India to the Canadian prime minister after his government said last week that Justin Trudeau had "no plans" to meet Punjab Chief Minister and Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh over the issue of 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The indifference of the state governments and the Centre to Trudeau's visit is being viewed as protest by India over Canadian government's apparent support to Khalistani separatists.

This silent protest surprised many as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised high expectations in bilateral relations between India and Canada when he toured the country in 2015.

However diplomatic relations made and Trudeau the visiting prime minister has included a meeting with the Captain during his visit to Amritsar.

Canada is home to over 1.2 million Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) who comprise more than 3 per cent of its population.

The skilled and affluent Indian community is one of the largest immigrant groups in Canada. The community is very active in Canadian politics. Their influence is reflected in Justin Trudeau's cabinet, which has four Sikh ministers.

Some Salient features of Indo Canadian relationship includes :

India and Canada have not occupied high priorities in bilateral commerce with two-way trade pegged at USD 6.05 billion in 2016. However, it has nearly doubled since 2010 when bilateral trade was at USD 3.21 billion.

The cumulative India FDI, as per Statistics Canada in 2016 was USD 2093.53 million as against Canadian FDI of USD 901.1693 million in India. Indian companies have invested especially in the IT, software, steel and natural resources sectors.

India accounts for only 1.95 per cent of Canada's global trade. Major items of India exports to Canada include gems, jewellary and precious stones, pharmaceutical products, readymade garments, textiles, organic chemicals, light engineering goods, iron and steel articles.