Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated his support for the right of the agitating farmers to hold peaceful protests in India, just a day after the country summoned Canada’s High Commissioner and conveyed a stern warning to him.

“Canada will always stand up for the right of peaceful protests anywhere around the world. And we are pleased to see moves towards de-escalation and dialogue”, he told reporters, who asked him about maintaining ties with India post the Ministry of External Affairs’ warning.

Trudeau calmly reiterated his first sentence when further asked if he was worried about India’s displeasure.

India on Friday summoned the Canadian High Commissioner and told him that the remarks made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and some other leaders on the farmers’ protests ‘constituted an “unacceptable interference’ in the nation’s internal affairs.

“The Canadian High Commissioner was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs today and informed that comments by the Canadian Prime Minister, some Cabinet Ministers and members of Parliament on issues relating to Indian farmers constitute an unacceptable interference in our internal affairs,” the MEA said, adding that a demarche was made to the diplomat.

The MEA said that such comments by the Canadian leaders have resulted in “gatherings of extremist activities” in front of the Indian High Commission and Consulates in Canada, which have raised concerns regarding safety and security.

“We expect the Canadian government to ensure the fullest security of Indian diplomatic personnel and its political leaders to refrain from pronouncements that legitimize extremist activism,” the MEA further said.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and several other states have been protesting for the last ten days at the borders of Delhi against three farm laws.

Farmers' groups met three Union ministers on Saturday for the fifth round of talks amid the ongoing protests over the Centre's new farm laws. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, are holding talks with the representatives of 40 farmers' unions at the Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital. Seeking to break the deadlock over protests against new farm laws, the government on Saturday told representatives of agitating farmers that they are ready to address all their concerns with an open mind, PTI reported.