New Delhi:
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that they have no idea how Jaspal Atwal — an Indian-origin businessman with ties to the Khalistan movement — managed to sneak into India and attend an event of the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Mumbai earlier this week.
Raveesh Kumar, MEA spokesperson said, “We are trying to find out. In due course we will be able to come with a reason that how he managed to come in India.”
Kumar’s statement comes after Atwal’s photograph with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie Trudeau and other ministers of his cabinet made rounds on the social media.
Atwal attended the Mumbai event on Tuesday and in a huge embarrassment for Canada, was photographed with the prime minister's wife Sophie Trudeau and Canadian minister Amarjeet Sohi.
The MEA spokesperson further added, “Let us not presume things and decide how he managed to come to India and attended the event.”
According to Kumar there are two aspects to it ‘presence and visa.’ “The Canadian side has already clarified that the invitation has been withdrawn.
He added, “About the visa I don’t know how it happened. We are trying to ascertain the information from our Commission in Canada.”
Jaspal Atwal, an Indian-origin businessman with ties to the Khalistan movement. He was associated with banned Sikh separatist outfit International Sikh Youth Federation (ISFY) — infamous for 1984 Air India bombing. The ISYF was declared a terrorist outfit and banned in India under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2001. The organisation is also banned in USA, UK and Canada.
Atwal was also one of the four convicted for ambushing Punjab Minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in 1986. Sidhu had survived the attack.
