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NEW DELHI: Jaspal Atwal , a convicted Khalistani terrorist, whose invitation to a dinner in honour of visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was rescinded following a controversy, no longer figures in the home ministry'sof Sikh extremists, officials said.The central government time-to-time reviews theof the Sikh extremists taking into account intelligence inputs and activities of the persons concerned, a home ministry official said.Names of nearly 150 wanted terrorists and their associates were removed from thein the last few years, the official said."Atwal's name no longer figures in the current," the official said.The review of theis always done in consultation with the Punjab government and central security agencies.Most of the persons whose names have been deleted from the wanted list are believed to be currently based in countries like Pakistan, the US, Canada, Norway, France and Germany.After the government removed them from the, they could 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, Atwal arrived in ndia and subsequently got the invitation to the dinner being hosted in honour of Trudeau by High Commissioner of Canada Nadir Patel, the official said.Atwal was a Sikh separatist active in the banned International Sikh Youth Federation when he was convicted of attempt to murder of 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.It is not yet immediately known as to how Atwal got an Indian visa and why he was cleared to attend official events here.Atwal is said to have been active in Canadian politics in recent years.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau +
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Trudeau
NEW DELHI: Reeling from a fierce backlash over his spouse Sophie Trudeau 's photo-op with a convicted Khalistani terrorist,today said the matter was being taken "extremely seriously".Trudeau, who is on his first bilateral visit to India, landed in the midst of controversy over an invitation extended to Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal for a dinner hosted by Canadian High Commissioner Nadir Patel in Delhi.The Canadian Prime Minister's Office (PMO) quickly cancelled the invite to Atwal when a row erupted over photographs that showed the terrorist alongside Trudeau's wife Sophie at an event in Mumbai earlier this week."Obviously, we take this extremely seriously. He should never have received an invitation. As soon as we received the information we rescinded it, a member of Parliament had included this individual," Trudeau told mediapersons.Atwal, a member of the now-banned International Sikh Youth Federation, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for trying to kill the then Punjab cabinet minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu on Vancouver Island in 1986. Atwal later even confessed he was the shooter. (If he began his jail sentence in 1986, and if he served the full term, Atwal would have been released in 2006.)The Canadian PMO categorically stated that Atwal wasn't part of the official Canadian delegation and was in India in his private capacity."… it's important to be clear that he is not part of official delegation to PM's visit to India, nor was he invited by the Prime Minister's Office. As is the case with international trips, individuals sometimes travel on their own to the location of the visit," said the Canadian PMO.The Ministry of External Affairs said it was looking into how Atwal was granted a visa, and also appreciated the Canadian PMO's decision to revoke the invitation to Atwal."Canadian side has already clarified that the invitation has been withdrawn. Let us not presume things and decide how he managed to come. This is something which we are trying to find out. In due course we will be able to come up with a reason that how he managed to come in India," spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a press briefing.With speculation running rife about how the pro-Khalistan terrorist got access to a high-level event, Kumar said, "This is something which should be addressed by the Canadian side. They have said that it was an oversight."Canadian Member of Parliament Randeep S Sarai admitted that was responsible for extending the invitation to Atwal, and apologized for doing so."I alone facilitated his request to attend this important event. I should have exercised better judgment, and I take full responsibility for my actions," Sarai said in a statement, shared by Canadian journalist Abigail Bimman on Twitter.Tensions over the Khalistan issue have marred's visit, and fueled speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was giving the cold shoulder to his Canadian counterpart.PM Modi has been notably absent sinceand his family touched down in India on Saturday evening.Trudeau has sought to quash perceptions his administration is soft on pro-Khalistan elements, and affirmed that Canada is committed to "one united India" and his government was serious about cracking down on extremism.
Jaspal Atwal photographed with Canadian PM’s wife Sophie Trudeau at an event in Mumbai on 20 February. (ANI Twitter quoting CBCNews) Jaspal Atwal photographed with Canadian PM’s wife Sophie Trudeau at an event in Mumbai on 20 February. (ANI Twitter quoting CBCNews)
Jaspal Atwal, a former member of the banned Sikh extremist group, became the centre of a fresh controversy surrounding Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to India.
What is the controversy about?
The Canada-based businessman was invited to an event in Delhi by the Canadian High Commission in India. The dinner invitation was later rescinded by Canadian High Commissioner Nadir Patel.
PM Trudeau said Atwal should have never received an invitation and blamed a member of Parliament for including his name on the guest list.
“Obviously, we take this extremely seriously. He should never have received an invitation. As soon as we received the info we rescinded it, a member of Parliament had included this individual,” said Trudeau.
The controversy over Atwal’s presence in India erupted after he was photographed with Gregoire Trudeau, the prime minister’s wife, and Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi at an event in Mumbai.
Jaspal Atwal photographed with Canadian Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi. (Source: ANI) Jaspal Atwal photographed with Canadian Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi. (Source: ANI)
Who is Jaspal Atwal?
Atwal was a Sikh separatist part of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The pro-Khalistan organisation gained international notoriety when its leader, Talwinder Parmar, bombed an Air India flight in 1985, killing 331 people.
How was he involved with the ISYF?
Atwal was among the four men who attempted to assassinate Punjab minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu on Vancouver Island in 1986. The men ambushed Sidhu during a private trip to Canada and fired shots at his car. Sidhu survived the attack but, five years later, was killed in Punjab’s Moga.
A trial court convicted him and sentenced Atwal and others to 20 years’ imprisonment. The trial court described the assassination bid as an “act of terrorism”. Atwal appealed against the trial court verdict and it was overturned.
Atwal was also allegedly involved in a 1985 attack on Ujjal Dosanjh, a strong opponent of the Khalistan movement. He was severely injured in the attack but survived. Atwal was charged but was later acquitted.
In 2010, Atwal was convicted in an automobile fraud case. Canada’s Supreme Court ruled that Atwal was part of a gang that falsely reported vehicles stolen, changed the registrations numbers and sold them to unwitting buyers.
How did the Indian government react to Atlwal’s visit?
Atwal was previously on the MHA blacklist of Sikh extremists but his name was removed during a periodical review.
Names of nearly 150 wanted terrorists and their associates were removed from the blacklist in the last few years, a home ministry official told PTI.
Atwal’s name no longer figures in the current blacklist, he added.
Once the government removed the name of an individual from the blacklist, he/she is free to enter and leave India.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs said it is not clear how the Khalistani activist was given visa. “There are two aspects to it, presence and visa. The Canadian side has already clarified that the invitation has been withdrawn. About the Visa, I don’t know how it happened. We will ascertain information from our Commission,” said Raveesh Kumar, MEA Spokesperson.
He also said, “Let us not presume things and decide how he managed to come. This is something which we are trying to find out. In due course, we will be able to come up with a reason that how he managed to come in India.”
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Jaspal Atwal, an Indian-origin businessman with ties to the Khalistan movement, has become the new thorn in the relationship between India and Canada. Photographs of Mr. Atwal with Canadian Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rekindled the debate on Mr. Trudeau's stand on the pro-Khalistan movement.
Currently, Mr. Atwal is associated with Media Wave Communications that runs a Surrey-based online radio station. But he was formerly associated with the banned Sikh separatists outfit International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), notorious for the 1985 Air India bombing. The ISYF seeks to establish a separate country for the Sikhs of India called Khalistan. India declared the ISYF as a terrorist outfit and banned it under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2001. The outfit is also banned in Canada, United Kingdom and USA, which have sizeable Sikh populations.
Jaspal Atwal seen with Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau at an event in Mumbai. Photo courtesy: CBC News
Mr. Atwal was one of four men convicted for ambushing and shooting Punjab Minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in 1986. Sidhu was attacked near Gold River on Vancouver Island when he was on a private trip to Canada to attend his nephew's wedding. Though Sidhu survived, he was assassinated five years later in Moga, Punjab.
The trial court convicted, Mr. Atwal, Jasbir Singh Atwal, Armajit Singh Dhindsa and Sukhdial Singh Gill and sentenced them to 20 years' imprisonment. The trial court termed the murder attempt as "act of terrorism." The verdict was overturned in the appeal and the four men didn't serve their prison terms. Mr. Atwal later admitted to the parole board that he was the shooter that day, reported Vancouver Sun.
The CBC News also reported that Mr. Atwal been convicted in an automobile fraud case, and was charged, but not convicted, in a 1985 near-fatal attack on Ujjal Dosanjh, an opponent of the Sikh separatist movement who later became Premier of British Columbia.
The Canadian PMO clarified that Mr. Atwal was not part of official delegation to PM’s visit to India, nor was he invited by the Prime Minister’s Office. "As is the case with international trips, individuals sometimes travel on their own to the location of the visit,” a media release stated.
Mr. Atwal told Vancouver Sun that he travelled to India on his own on February 11.
The Ministry of External Affairs has not responded yet on how Mr. Atwal was granted a visa, despite being charged with a former State Minister's murder attempt.
