Canada’s spy agency was ‘alerted’ on Atwal

Toronto, February 23

Canada’s spy agency had been warned about the repercussions of convicted Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal attending events with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his tour to India, the Canadian media reported today.

Trudeau’s first bilateral visit to India was hit by a controversy over the dinner invitation to Atwal by the Canadian High Commissioner in New Delhi.

Atwal had been convicted of shooting at visiting Punjab minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu on Vancouver Island in 1986.

High Commissioner Nadir Patel cancelled Atwal’s invite for the dinner, hosted last night for Trudeau, while the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it would “ascertain” how Atwal entered India.

The informant, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, confirmed speaking to an agent from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) on February 17, hoping to alert the Canadian Government about Atwal’s criminal history.

The person told the CSIS agent that “this is an embarrassment for the Prime Minister, and CSIS should send a note to the PM’s office. And they sent a note.”

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service did not respond to requests for comment, Postmedia reported.

A separate source told Postmedia that some members of the Punjabi-language media in Surrey sent news reports about Atwal’s history to the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi on February 20. — PTI