India has nothing to do with Jaspal Atwal's invitation to country: MEA
New Delhi, Feb 28 (IBNS): The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday said the government had nothing to do with convicted Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal's invitation by the Canadian High Commissioner to India during a recently concluded visit of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In response to a query regarding invitation to Jaspal Atwal, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: “We have seen the recent exchange in the Parliament of Canada regarding two invitations issued to Jaspal Atwal by the Canadian High Commissioner, for functions hosted in honour of the Canadian Prime Minister in India."
"Let me categorically state that the Government of India, including the security agencies, had nothing to do with the presence of Jaspal Atwal at the event hosted by the Canadian High Commissioner in Mumbai or the invitation issued to him for the Canadian High Commissioner's reception in New Delhi. Any suggestion to the contrary is baseless and unacceptable.”
Atwal was convicted in Canada for attempting the murder of then-Punjab minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu on Vancouver Island in 1986.
Atwal's invitation to the dinner hosted by the Canadian High Commissioner in India on Thursday came as an embarrassment for Trudeau as he had ensured Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh of Canada's distance from all those who are allegedly involved with the Sikh separatist movement.
Trudeau has also promised to take actions against all who want the Indian state of Punjab to be a separate country, named Khalistan.
As a damage control, the invitation to Atwal was later rescinded.
The Canadian Prime Minister has said that he will take action against the "person responsible" for inviting Atwal.
"We take this very seriously. The individual in question should have never received an invitation. The person and department responsible will take full responsibility for his actions," Trudeau said.
Atwal is reportedly a former member of the International Sikh Youth Federation, a banned 'terrorist’ group in Canada, the UK, the US and India.
Image: Screenshot grab.
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