NEW DELHI – In yet another twist in the visit of Canadian PM Justin Trudeauto India over the allegations of alleged support to the Khalistanmovement, the situation went worst when one of the India declaredKhalistani terrorist was photographed with Justin Trudeau wife In Mumbai.
In what is turning out to be a massive public relations disaster for thevisiting Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, it has now emerged that aCanada-based Khalistani activist, convicted in the attempted murder of aPunjab Minister in 1986 was invited to two events organized for Trudeau, inMumbai and in Delhi.
As photographs of Canadian PM’s wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, and one ofthe Canadian ministers, emerged which showed them with Jaspal Atwal, aknown Khalistani activist, at a reception in Mumbai, the Canadian HighCommission in New Delhi on Thursday said that they have rescinded theinvitation to the reception in Delhi.
Atwal was convicted of attempted murder in 1987, after shooting MalkiatSingh Sidhu, who at the time was visiting family on Vancouver Island. He isa former member of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), apro-Khalistani outfit that was banned in Canada and designated a terroristorganization in 2003. While Atwal was seen with the Canadian officialdelegation, questions about his presence in India remain unanswered — as tohow he entered India after having been convicted of trying to assassinatean Indian politician.
Canadian Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi,photographed with Jaspal Atwal at an event in Mumbai on February (ANITwitter/CBCNews)
This latest incident stirred a fresh controversy on Trudeau’s ongoingvisit, which is being perceived to be cold-shouldered by the Indiangovernment. Trudeau’s Liberal party-ruled Canadian government has beenperceived to be kowtowing with the pro-Khalistan sections of the Sikhcommunity in Canada. New Delhi has been peeved with the Trudeaugovernment’s approach.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not accompanied Trudeau during the Gujaratvisit, whereas he had accompanied three visiting world leaders, Japan PMShinzo Abe, Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Chinese President Xi Jinpingin the last three-and-half years. He has also not yet sent a welcome tweetfor the visiting Canadian PM’s visit, as has been customary in the past.
While he did not receive Trudeau at the airport, the Ministry of ExternalAffairs has maintained that such a departure from the protocol is done witha few exceptions. In the last three-and-half years, Modi has gone to theairport to receive only about half-a-dozen times – Abe, Netanyahu, USPresident Barack Obama Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and the UAE’s CrownPrince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. However, there have been more than 100visits by leaders from across the world.
Trudeau’s ongoing visit, with his family, has been photographed almostevery step of the way, as they have travelled to Agra to see the Taj Mahal,to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Amritsar and now in Delhi. However, only juniorministers from the Union government have received him so far.
While all this has been seen as India’s indifferent approach to express itsdispleasure over his party’s outreach towards pro-Khalistan elements in theCanadian Sikh community – a sizeable vote bank, Trudeau – during hismeeting with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is understood to haveassured that Canada does not support any separatist movement in India orelsewhere. Singh has been one of the most vocal about the pro-Khalistanmoorings of Trudeau’s government.