Prior to talks, row over invite to Sikh extremist

NEW DELHI:A day prior to formal talks between PM Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau, India and Canada hastened to damage control after a photograph of Trudeau’s wife Sophie with convicted Sikh separatist Jaspal Atwal appeared in the Canadian media.

Jaspal Atwal (R) with Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie in Mumbai. ANI

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22

A day prior to formal talks between PM Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau, India and Canada hastened to damage control after a photograph of Trudeau’s wife Sophie with convicted Sikh separatist Jaspal Atwal appeared in the Canadian media. Reports said Atwal had attended an official event hosted in Mumbai for the visiting Trudeaus.

Edit: Victory of diplomacy

Atwal, a member of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation, was convicted of trying to murder then Punjab minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in Vancouver in 1986. Sidhu was shot at twice, but survived. He was later killed in India. A Canadian court had then called it “an act of terrorism” and sentenced Atwal and three others to 20 years in prison.

Atwal was invited to a select dinner in Canada House this evening in honour of Trudeau. Following media reports, the invitation was rescinded by the Canadian Mission. The controversy erupted as Trudeau landed back in Delhi after a four-city visit. Asked about the Atwal row on the sideline of a business forum event, the Canadian PM called it unfortunate. “We take this very seriously. The Individual in question never should have received an invitation. As soon as we found out we rescinded the invitation immediately. The person and department will take full responsibility,” he said.

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Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar fielded a barrage of questions on the subject with no clear answers. “His presence at the event should be addressed to the Canadians. On the visa part, there are different ways people enter india.There are OCI cards, e visas... “

Later in the day, an MEA spokesperson said Atwal’s name was not on the immigration blacklist of Sikh extremists. “The Union Government time-to-time reviews the blacklist of Sikh extremists, taking into account Intelligence inputs and activities of the persons concerned”. He said 150 such names had been removed from the blacklist in the last few years, and in the process Atwal’s name was removed too.

Many an eyebrow was raised last year when Trudeau attended a “Khalsa Day” parade where Bhindranwale was eulogised. The Khalistan issue was discussed formally at strategic talks between the Foreign Ministers of both countries today ahead of the Friday talks. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland called her discussions with Sushma Swaraj as constructive and useful.

“The Canadian foreign policy is to support a strong and united India,” she said at an event organised by the Observer Research Foundation. In his talks with Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh in Amritsar on Wednesday, Trudeau had assured him that his government did not support separatists. (With PTI inputs)