A fresh controversy rocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to India on Thursday after Canadian authorities first extended invitation to Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal to attend an official dinner reception in New Delhi and later cancelled it apprehending strong reactions from India.
The Canadian side claimed that the invitation to Atwal was an oversight and should not have been happened. On its part, the Ministry of External Affairs said it is investigating how Atwal got a visa to India even as Ministry of Home Affairs clarified he is not a blacklisted person and can move freely in the world and even in India.
Atwal was a Sikh separatist active in the banned International Sikh Youth Federation when he was convicted of attempt to murder Punjab Minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in Vancouver in 1986.
Sidhu was shot at twice on a road and survived, but was later assassinated in India. A judge called it an act of terrorism and sentenced Atwal and three others to 20 years in prison. According to reports, Atwal has completed his sentence and is active in Canadian politics these days.
The invitation to Atwal was cancelled hours before Canadian High Commissioner Nadir Patel hosted a dinner in the honour of visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his delegation at his residence.
“The High Commission has rescinded Atwal’s invitation. We do not comment on matters relating to the PM’s security,” the Canadian High Commission said in a statement.
Reports claimed that the invitation to Atwal was extended on the recommendation of a Canadian Parliamentarian, Randeep Sarai, who is MP from Surrey Centre. Trudeau, reportedly, told the Canadian media that his Government has taken a serious view of this incident while his office clarified that Atwal is not part of the official delegation to the PM’s visit to India, nor was he invited by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Trudeau is facing criticism for having a soft approach towards pro-Khalistani voices even though the Canadian PM has assured India that his country does not support separatism in India or elsewhere. However, photographs of Atwal sharing space with Trudeau’s wife emerged in Canadian media triggering a fresh debate.
Facing criticism over granting visa to Atwal, the MEA said while it is examining how the convicted terrorist got the visa for entry into India, its spokesperson Raveesh Kumar added that the issue of giving invite to Atwal for his presence at the dinner was for the Canadian side to address.
However, the MHA clarified that Atwal no longer figures in its blacklist of Sikh extremists. According to officials, names of nearly 150 wanted terrorists and their associates were removed from the blacklist in the last few years during regular reviews. After the Government removed them from the blacklist, they can move freely around the world and even return to India. Perhaps taking advantage of the Central Government’s decision to remove his name from the blacklist, Atwal arrived in India and subsequently got the invitation to the envoy’s dinner, the official said.