A former Sikh militant Jaspal Atwal has apologised to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for causing embarrassment to him during his trip to India.
Jaspal Atwal, a member of banned outfit International Sikh Youth Federation was convicted of attempted murder in 1986. He along with four men ambushed and shot at Cabinet Minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu while he was visiting Vancouver Island in 1986.
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As per news report by The Star, Jaspal Atwal said, “I had assumed there would be no problem. No one at any point indicated there would be any issue. I am sorry for the embarrassment this matter has caused to Canada, India, my community and family and friends.”
While addressing a media conference, the 62-year-old said, “I renounce any form of terrorism. I do not advocate for an independent Sikh nation” and added “I, like the vast majority of Sikhs who once advocated for this cause, have reconciled with the nation of India”.
Atwal went on say that since his parole he has been engaged broadly in politics on behalf of the Indo-Canadian community, and visited India numerous times including three visits over the past year, each time with the full permission of the Indian government.
No travel restrictions were placed on me by Canada or India,” he added.
Atwal also pointed out that before his trip to India, he had reached out to his local member of Parliament, Randeep Sarai, to ask if he could attend a reception with Trudeau in India.
“I had assumed there would be no problems. No one had at any point indicated there would be any issues,” he said.
However, Sarai who had earlier taken the full responsibility of the controversy, later said “I didn’t invite the person (Jaspal Atwal). He’s a media personality; he’s associated with Media Waves, the radio, and he’s there for, around everywhere. We did go on his radio pre-election, kind of during the writ period time, afterwards I’ve been on it a couple of times, he’s been around socially in the community here in Surrey for years now,” he added.
Atwal controversy
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had courted controversy during his visit to India this month after the Canadian High Commission had sent an invitation for dinner with him to Atwal. The invitation was later rescinded following the controversy.
The invite sent to Atwal read: “His Excellency Nadir Patel, High Commissioner for Canada to India is pleased to invite Jaspal Atwal to a dinner reception celebrating Canada-India ties on the occasion of the visit of The Right Hounourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.”
On the issue of Atwal’s invitation, Canadian PM Trudeau had said that the matter was extremely serious. He had informed that a Member of Parliament Randeep S Sarai had included him and that the invitation has now been revoked.
“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,” he said earlier.
Shockingly, pictures of Atwal along with the Canadian PM’s wife, Sophie Trudeau as well as Canadian Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi at a function in Mumbai on 20 February have also gone viral on social media.
Atwal, who lives in Canada came to India on 11 February in his personal capacity and not along with Trudeau’s official entourage, reports said.
Following massive outrage after the news leaked in the media, his invite was revoked.
(With agency inputs)