'Atwal Theory' baseless and unacceptable: Ministry of External Affairs

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said that the 'conspiracy theory' surrounding the invitation to pro-Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal at an event hosted by the Canadian High Commission in Mumbai and New Delhi was baseless and unacceptable.

In response to a query regarding the invitation to Atwal, Official 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.”

During Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to India last week, Atwal was invited to dine with him at a formal event hosted by Canadian High Commissioner to India Nadir Patel. The invite was later rescinded.

Trudeau also received backlash over his wife Sophie Trudeau's photo with convicted pro-Khalistani terrorist.

However, Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) Randeep S. Sarai, took the responsibility for inviting Atwal to Trudeau's reception dinner in New Delhi.

Atwal was convicted of the attempted murder of Punjab minister, Malkiat Singh Sidhu, on Vancouver Island in Canada in 1986.