Jaspal Atwal, who was at the centre of the controversy that revolved around Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to India, told The Canadian Press that he volunteered to not attend the dinner hosted by High Commissioner Nadir Patel in New Delhi because he didn’t want to see his Prime Minister “embarrassed”.
A huge controversy had erupted when news emerged that an invitation was extended to Khalistan separatist Jaspal Atwal, who was also convicted of attempted assassination in Canada in 1987, for the reception to be held at the residence of Canadian High Commissioner Nadir Patel in New Delhi
Even though Trudeau’s spokesperson, Cameron Ahmad, said Atwal’s invitation was rescinded by the High Commission, Atwal said, “I am not sure he’s able to send you proof it wasn’t rescinded.”
Some Canadian officials had suspected the involvement of rogue elements from the Indian government behind this embarrassing invitation, but Atwal said this theory was a “total lie” adding that the “India’s government has nothing to do with anything.” He did, however, confirm that he was put on the MHA blacklist of Khalistani separatists.
Sources from the Indian government had said that Atwal’s name was dropped from the MHA blacklist of Sikh extremists, but couldn’t comment on when or how it had happened.
His passport indicates that he visited India twice in 2017 — once in January and then in August. He said he also visited India in 1999 to immerse his father’s ashes, and then again in 2002 to shop for his son’s wedding.
He showed The Canadian Press proof of receiving an invitation for a dinner with Trudeau from the high commission in India.
Atwal also claimed to have reformed himself. He said he no longer supports the Khalistani organisations, many of which have a financial interest in the separatist state.
He was convicted of attempting to murder the then Punjab minister, Makiat Singh Sidhu, in Vancouver in 1986. He was a part of the four-member gang who shot at Sidhu’s car near Gold River on Vancouver Island. Though Sidhu survived the attack, he was assassinated five years later in Moga, Punjab.
Atwal was, at the time, associated with banned Sikh separatist outfit International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), which was fighting for a separate land for the Sikhs.
Atwal also told The Canadian Press that he had known Trudeau for years, and in one certain occasion even chatted in his Hummer — another claim that was debunked by Ahmad.
“That is not true,” Ahmad said in an interview. Asked about the Hummer conversation, Ahmad said: “I don’t know what he’s referring to there, but no, they are not (friends).”
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