Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began the last leg of his week-long India visit on a controversial note after reports surfaced about convicted Khalistani separatist Jaspal Atwal being invited by the Canadian government to dine with the PM.
Trudeau met PM Modi on Friday, 23 February, following days of speculation that the former was being snubbed by the Centre.
- PM Modi met his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on 23 February
- After a controversy over Jaspal Atwal being invited to dinner with Trudeau, the Canadian High Commission has said it has rescinded the invitation of the Khalistani separatist
- Responding to the Jaspal Atwal controversy, Trudeau asserted on 22 February, “He should never have received an invitation”
- Meanwhile, the MEA has said that one must “not presume things and decide how Atwal managed to come (to India)”
- PM Modi, on 22 February, broke his silence on Justin Trudeau's visit to India, with a tweet saying that he looks forward to meeting the Canadian PM
- On 21 February, Trudeau met Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, where he told the latter that Canada does not support separatist movements
PM Modi, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Issue Joint Statement
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Trudeau Meets Swaraj
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Picture speaks for itself! EAM @SushmaSwaraj had a warm meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada @JustinTrudeau and discussed ways to strengthen and deepen our partnership. pic.twitter.com/4nB1QmwgQT
February 23, 2018Modi Meets Trudeau
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and family in New Delhi on Friday, 23 February.
Later, he and his his family paid a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat.
'Look Forward to Meeting Trudeau & His Children': PM Modi Breaks His Silence on Canadian PM's Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally broke his silence on Justin Trudeau's visit to India, as he posted on Twitter saying that he looks forward to meeting the Canadian PM. Modi added that he is particularly looking forward to meeting Trudeau's children – Xavier, Ella-Grace, and Hadrien.
I look forward to meeting PM @JustinTrudeau tomorrow and holding talks on further strengthening India-Canada relations in all spheres. I appreciate his deep commitment to ties between our two countries.
February 22, 2018I hope PM @JustinTrudeau and his family had a very enjoyable stay so far. I particularly look forward to meeting his children Xavier, Ella-Grace, and Hadrien. Here is a picture from my 2015 Canada visit, when I'd met PM Trudeau and Ella-Grace. pic.twitter.com/Ox0M8EL46x
February 22, 2018Trudeau is scheduled to meet PM Modi on Friday, 23 February.
Canada Supports a Strong and United India: Canadian Foreign Minister
In the aftermath of the controversy surrounding Jaspal Atwal, Canadian Foreign Minister reiterated Canada's support for a strong and united India.
We are familiar with separatist challenges at home. Canada supports a strong and united India. Terrorism, in all forms, is a threat. All democracies should be united in its condemnation.Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia FreelandEarlier in the day, Freeland held a strategic dialogue with her Indian counterpart, Sushma Swaraj, in New Delhi.
Jaspal Atwal no Longer in MHA Blacklist
Convicted Khalistan separatist Jaspal Atwal no longer figures in the Home Ministry's blacklist of Sikh extremists, officials told PTI on Thursday, 22 February.
The central government from time-to-time reviews the blacklist of Sikh extremists, taking into account intelligence inputs and activities of the persons concerned, a Home Ministry official told PTI.
Names of nearly 150 wanted terrorists and their associates were removed from the blacklist in the last few years, the official added.
“Atwal's name no longer figures in the current blacklist,” the official told PTI.The review of the blacklist is always done in consultation with the Punjab government and central security agencies.
Most of the persons whose names have been deleted from the wanted list are believed to be currently based in countries like Pakistan, the US, Canada, Norway, France and Germany.
After the government removed them from the blacklist, they could move freely around the world and even return to India.Perhaps taking advantage of the central government's decision to remove his name from the blacklist, Atwal arrived in India and subsequently got an invitation to attend the dinner being hosted in honour of Trudeau by High Commissioner of Canada Nadir Patel, the official said.
Atwal was a Sikh separatist active in the banned International Sikh Youth Federation when he was convicted of attempt to murder of Punjab minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in Vancouver in 1986. Sidhu was shot at twice on a road and survived, but was later assassinated in India.
A judge called it "an act of terrorism" and sentenced Atwal and three others to 20 years in prison.
'He Should've Never Received an Invitation': Trudeau on Jaspal Atwal Controversy
Responding to the controversy that erupted about the reported invitation of Jaspal Atwal, Justin Trudeau asserted that "he should never have received an invitation".
Obviously, we take this extremely seriously. He should never have received an invitation. As soon as we received the information, we rescinded it. A member of Parliament had included this individual.Justin TrudeauAddressing a business summit in the capital, Trudeau also underlined the ties between India and Canada, saying:
Canada and India are countries committed to pursuing and upholding democracy. We are the two largest democracies in the world, one by size and one by population.Justin Trudeau'Let's Not Presume Things and Decide How Atwal Managed to Come': MEA
Addressing a press conference after the whole Jaspal Atwal 'separatist row' broke out, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that one must "not presume things and decide how he (Atwal) managed to come".
This is something which we are trying to find out. In due course, we will be able to come up with a reason regarding how he managed to come in India...There are two aspects to it - presence and visa. Canadian side has already clarified that the invitation has been withdrawn. About the visa, I don't know how it happened. We will ascertain information from our Commission.Raveesh Kumar, MEA SpokespersonCanadian Mission Rescinds Invitation to Khalistan Separatist; Atwal Seen in Photo With Trudeau's Wife
Amid a raging controversy, the High Commission of Canada, on Thursday, 22 February, said that it has rescinded an invitation extended to Khalistan separatist Jaspal Atwal for a reception in honour of visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
"The High Commission has rescinded Mr Atwal's invitation," the high commission \said in a statement.
"We do not comment on matters relating to the PM's security," it added.
Controversy broke out over news of an invitation being extended to Khalistan separatist Atwal, who was also convicted of attempted assassination in Canada in 1987, for the reception to be held at the residence of Canadian High Commissioner Nadir Patel on Thursday.
Atwal was reportedly seen in several photographs with Trudeau's wife, Sophie, and Canadian Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sodhi taken in Mumbai on 20 February.Sushma Swaraj, Canadian Foreign Minister Hold Strategic Dialogue
Ahead of Friday's India-Canada bilateral summit, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland held a strategic dialogue in New Delhi on Thursday, 22 February, covering a wide range of bilateral cooperation issues.
EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Canadian Foreign Minister @cafreeland had wide ranging discussions on strengthening relations in trade and investment, security and cyber security, energy, people to people contacts and other relevant bilateral and regional issues. pic.twitter.com/FfIFx5AfB0
February 22, 2018Canadian PM Arrives at Jama Masjid
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family toured the Jama Masjid in New Delhi. They were accompanied by Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan.
(With inputs from PTI, IANS and ANI)
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