Invitation of Jasper Atwal : The Indian government takes ball red on a theory of Canada

File Photo, AFP

Christopher Nardi

Wednesday, 28 February 2018 11:24

UPDATE
Wednesday, 28 February 2018 11:24

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OTTAWA | “Unacceptable” and “without foundation”. The indian government has strongly denounced the insinuation by the Trudeau government as representatives of India would have tried to sabotage his journey in ensuring that an ex-extremist Sikh is invited to an evening with honorary canadian.

“Let me state bluntly that the government of India, including its security agencies, had nothing to do with the presence of Jaspal Atwal at the event organized by the high commissioner of Canada in Mumbai, or the invitation which was addressed to him for the reception of the High Commissioner of Canada in New Delhi. Any suggestion to the contrary is baseless and unacceptable,” said the spokesman of the Ministry of external Affairs of india, Raveesh Kumar.

Yesterday in the room, prime minister Trudeau has faced a firing bulk of the opposition parties about a theory advanced by a canadian government official highly placed elements of the indian government would have orchestrated the invitation of Jaspal Atwal to a dinner of honor with Justin Trudeau in India last week.

Mr. Atwal is a controversial figure in India and in Canada, because he had already served 20 years in prison for an attempt of murder against an indian minister’s visit to Canada in 1986. He has also been part of a separatist movement, the sikh deemed terrorist by Canada.

In response to the opposition, the prime minister had reiterated his confidence in the public service and its advisers, adding that if one of them had advanced this theory, he gave them confidence.

Last Thursday, a top official has made the rounds of journalists assigned to the coverage of parliament hill at the request of the office of the prime minister. This man, who has requested anonymity to speak more freely, had advanced that some of the people in the indian government would have wanted to sabotage the journey of Mr. Trudeau in order to advance their political agenda.

In the room, the conservative mps have said that the anonymous source was Daniel Jean, the national security advisor and the intelligence of the prime minister.

Wednesday morning, the PM has once again reiterated his confidence in the intelligence service and canadian security.

“It’s not going to surprise anyone to know that I support and that I have full confidence in our intelligence services, both here in Canada and our professional public service.”