The Curious Case Of Jaspal Atwal

The stunning oversight of including a convicted Khalistani terrorist in the PM’s delegation and then extending him an invite to attend the reception events in India, doesn’t look very promising for healthy ties between India and Canada.

The man in question here is Jaspal Atwal, a man convicted of trying to kill an Indian government official Malkiat Singh Sidhu on Vancouver Island in 1986. He was also charged but not convicted for trying to kill Ujjal Dosanjh, a former Liberal health minister. Atwal is a staunch supporter of the Sikh separatist movement’s push for an independent state of Khalistan. 

Atwal’s presence with Trudeau became a huge embarrassment for the Canadian government, who later very conveniently described it as an oversight by its officials. But New Delhi still says it is investigating the matter.

“The Canadian government has described it as a case of oversight. They have cancelled his invitation to the reception dinner in Delhi. We are still trying to ascertain the details of how he was granted an Indian visa and was allowed to visit,” said MEA (Ministry Of External Affairs) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

But the question is how come the Canadian PM’s office, PMO and Canadian High Commission in New Delhi all missed out on the same name? A serious case gross negligence?

Atwal was added to the guest list by Surrey Liberal MP Randeep Sarai. Sarai has now sent out his statement of apology to the Canadian Media. “I alone facilitated his request to attend this important event. I should have exercised better judgment, and I take full responsibility for my actions.”

“I apologize without reservation for my role in this situation, which has become an unfortunate distraction from the work, achievements, objectives of the Prime Minister and his team during this historic trip to India,” said Sarai, MP for Surrey Centre.

Atwal’s inclusion in the delegation has proved to be a public relations disaster for Canada in the PM’s week-long trip, which has been making headlines in the Indian media for all the wrong reasons. It has been five days into the trip and Trudeau has met PM Modi today, (literally a few hours back) and got himself a tweet. The two sides will engage in bilateral talks and exchange agreements today.

“I look forward to meeting PM Justin Trudeau tomorrow and holding talks on further strengthening India-Canada relations in all spheres. I appreciate his deep commitment to ties between the two countries, PM Modi mentioned in a tweet.

Trudeau’s Take Away from India Trip

Trudeau’s eight-day India visit which Canadian officials and the Canadian Media is terming as historic was not as well received in India. The trip gave Trudeau’s a big fat Indian holiday, paid for by the Canadian tax payer, dancing lessons by SRK and a cricket coaching by Kapil Dev. Trade wise as of now, Trudeau on Tuesday announced that corporate India has committed to invest 1-billion-dollar worth of investment in Canada leading to upto 5000 jobs to be created in the country. But the numbers are not as powerful as they seem. A one-billion-dollar investment announcement for the Canadian PM’s visit is just a drop in the ocean. There is a trade influx of 2 billion dollars daily on the Canadian-American border. So a visit of the PM to India (the first one after he assumed office) should reap much higher dividends. Given India’s strong ties with Canada and its position the global front, the two countries have not tapped the wide trade potential and it doesn’t look like it would happen at least during this visit. At present, India ranks 100 on ease of doing business and has a rapid growing economy at a rate of seven per cent.

Trudeau has made these announcements after meetings with the biggest industry stalwarts of the country. Does that mean it is a reaction of the Indian government to the Canadian Premier’s support to the Khalistan movement in Canada is affecting the Indo-Canada trade ties? Or has it been due to the epic failure of the Canadian government at International Relations by inviting Atwal in the delegation? Otherwise, the two sides would have committed to bigger numbers and Trudeau’s would be going back with heavier deals in their corporate pockets. The trade between India and Canada stands at $8.02 billion at present.