After maintaining that it was not aware how Canada-based convicted Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal had got a visa to enter India, in a bizarre twist of events the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said Atwal was given a valid visa for entry to India and his entry was allowed keeping in line with Government’s outreach policy towards misguided elements who have in the past harboured anti-India sentiments. Atwal had travelled to India thrice in the past one year, The MEA also said.
The dinner invitation to Atwal by the Canadian authorities during the visit of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had caused a major uproar. When the controversy had first erupted, the MEA had said it was not aware how he was granted a visa. However, on Friday, MEA said India has nothing against him as of now to prohibit his entry.
“This was not his first visit to India. He has visited India on earlier occasions since January 2017. The Government of India has a conscious policy of outreach to the Indian diaspora, including misguided elements who in the past may have harboured anti-India sentiments which they have since renounced. There are well established procedures for grant of visa to foreign travellers which have been followed in this case as well,” MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said while responding to queries on how Atwal got a visa.
Atwal’s presence at the events of Trudeau during his visit to India last month resulted in a lot of criticism by both Canadian and Indian media. As a result the Canadian High Commissioner to India, Nadir Patel, had to cancel the invitation issued to Atwal for the reception he had hosted in the honour of Trudeau. Atwal later said he was a friend of Trudeau and had voluntarily bowed out of the reception. later, Trudeau’s office gave a new spin to Atwal’s presence by saying rogue elements in India had planted Atwal in his events to embarrass him. Prior to his conviction, Atwal was associated with banned terrorist group —International Sikh Youth Federation . He was sentenced 20 years in prison for an attempt to assassinate Punjab Minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in Vancouver in 1986. He had completed his 20 years of sentence in a Canadian prison for his act.
The MEA had at that point of time said it was examining how Atwal was given a visa to enter India. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), had said that following the completion of his sentence, Atwal’s name was removed from the blacklist of people who were forbidden from entering India.
On Thursday, Atwal in a statement before media in Vancouver apologised for causing an embarrassment to India and Canada and offered a long explanation for his presence at the events and visit to India. “Canada is my home. India is my homeland. I am very proud to be a Canadian of Indian heritage. I am sorry for any embarrassment this matter has caused to Canada, India, my community and my family,” Atwal said.