Jaspal Atwal, the man who was at the centre of controversy over an invite he received to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s official events in India, has been charged with uttering threats in connection to an April 23 incident in Surrey, B.C. </s> NEW DELHI -- A man who was convicted of trying to assassinate an Indian cabinet minister in 1986 should not have been invited to receptions held in Delhi, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday.

His statement came after a senior official in Trudeau's office said an invitation issued to Jaspal Atwal for a reception was a mistake and was rescinded as soon as it was discovered.

But the error wasn't caught until after Atwal had already attended a reception with Trudeau on Tuesday evening and posed for photos with both Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi.

Trudeau told reporters in New Delhi prior to a speech at the Canada-India Business Summit where several hundred Canadian and Indian business people were gathered that it was wrong to issue the invitation.

"The individual in question never should have received an invitation and as soon as we found out we rescinded the invitation immediately," said Trudeau. "Obviously we take this situation extremely seriously."

A spokeswoman with the Prime Minister's Office said earlier that Atwal is not part of the PM's official delegation to India and that the PMO is "in the process of looking into how this occurred."

But as it turns out, Atwal was added to the guest list by British Columbia MP Randeep Sarai, one of the 14 MPs in India with Trudeau.

"The member of parliament who included this individual has and will assume full responsibility for his actions," Trudeau said.

Sarai also issued his own statement taking full responsibility and said he should have used better judgement.

Officials in the Prime Minister's Official wouldn't comment on the vetting process that allowed the two invitations to slip through. A spokesperson said they do not comment on matters relating to the PM's security.

The news about Atwal came a day after Trudeau said he condemned violent extremism and tried to convince the chief minister of Punjab that his government was not sympathetic to the Sikh separatist cause.

The embarrassing setbacks raise questions about the adequacy of both security and diplomatic preparations for Trudeau's trip. Trudeau appeared grim Thursday morning during a visit to the Jama mosque, one of the biggest mosques in India. He did not respond to a question thrown at him at a mosque photo op, nor did he respond when the questions were repeatedly shouted to him at a cricket pitch in Delhi Thursday afternoon.

Media were kept more than 50 metres away from Trudeau at the cricket pitch where his three children, Xavier, Ella-Grace and Hadrien, each took turns with a cricket bat while Trudeau looked on.

Trudeau and his family also visited the Sacred Heart Catholic church in Delhi Thursday, where he and his family lit candles and prayed.

Atwal was a member of the International Sikh Youth Federation, a banned terrorist group in Canada and India, when he was convicted of the attempted murder of an Indian cabinet minister. He was one of four men who ambushed and shot Malkiat Singh Sidhu in a car on Vancouver Island in 1986. Sidhu was wounded.

Atwal was also convicted in an automobile fraud case and was charged, but not convicted, in connection with a 1985 attack on Ujjal Dosanjh, a staunch opponent of the Sikh separatist movement's push for an independent Sikh state of Khalistan. Dosanjh went on to become premier of British Columbia and a federal cabinet minister.

Wednesday afternoon Trudeau met with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh who has repeatedly accused the Trudeau government and several of his cabinet ministers of being Khalistani sympathizers. Khalistan is the name of the independent Sikh state sought by some members of the Sikh community.

Trudeau told Singh Canada supports a united India and said he would look into concerns financing for Sikh separatist extremists was coming out of Canada, and Singh was happy with the meeting. Singh has not yet responded to the news Atwal was part of this trip.

Tensions between Canada and India have risen in recent years over Indian concerns about a rise in Sikh extremism coming from some of Canada's Sikh communities. Trudeau's appearances at some Sikh events where extremist supporters also showed up caused unhappiness in India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised the issue with Trudeau several times and it likely will come up again when the two leaders meet Friday in Delhi. </s> Putting an end to all the speculations that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was snubbed during his week-long India visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took to his Twitter account and said that he was looking forward meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. Taking it to Twitter, PM Modi said, “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 our two countries.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only just informed that he was looking forward to meet Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but also mentioned he hoped that his Canadian counterpart and his family had a very enjoyable stay so far. PM Modi especially mentioned about meeting Trudeau’s children Xavier, Ella-Grace, and Hadrien. The Prime Minister also shared a picture from his 2015 Canada visit, when he PM Trudeau and Ella-Grace.

Also Read: Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal spotted at Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s event in Mumbai; Delhi invitation scrapped

A lot of speculations were doing the rounds in media that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s India visit was being snubbed by central government minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the prime minister by putting a tweet announcing that he was looking forward to meet Justin Trudeau has put an end to it.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s India visit along with his family was surrounded in a controversy after his wife, Sophie Trudeau, was photographed with a Khalistani terrorist, Jaspal Atwal. The issue came to light after several media channels shared the photographs of Jaspal Atwal standing next to Justin Trudeau’s wife at an event held in Mumbai on February 20. Jaspal Atwal was convicted in the attempted murder of a Punjab Minister in 1986. The controversy was further highlighted after Khalistani terrorist was even included in the guest list of Canadian PM dinner event.

However, speaking out on the issue, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on Thursday said that obviously, we take this extremely seriously. He should never have received an invitation. As soon as we received the info we rescinded it. A member of Parliament had included this individual.

Also Read: Justin Trudeau says Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal should never have received invitation

Also Read: NPA files on NewsX: India’s biggest investigation into NPAs </s> Charges against a central figure in the controversy that surrounded Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 2018 trip to India have been stayed.

Jaspal Atwal was charged last May with uttering threats against Gurvinder Singh Dhaliwal, host of a daily Punjabi-language talk show.

Atwal was charged with one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm in the alleged incident, which is said to have occurred on April 23, 2018, according to documents filed in a Surrey, B.C., court.

Atwal has always denied the charges.

The B.C. Prosecution Service wrote in an emailed statement it decided to drop proceedings against Atwal on June 7 after further information was received by the prosecutor in the case.

"After reviewing this information and the rest of the file materials, the prosecutor concluded the charge approval standard could no longer be met," the statement said.

A stay of proceedings can occur if it is determined there isn't a likelihood of conviction, or if public interest would not be served by prosecuting. Crown prosecutors can decide to reinstate charges within one year of staying proceedings.

Sophie Gregoire Trudeau with Jaspal Atwal at an Indian film industry event in Mumbai during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's official visit to India in February 2018. (Supplied by Jaspal Atwal)

Atwal, a Canadian of Indian descent, was previously convicted of attempted murder for trying to assassinate Indian cabinet minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu while he was visiting Vancouver Island in 1986. Atwal served time in prison and was later released on parole.

During Justin Trudeau's 2018 visit to India, Atwal turned up at an official event and got an invitation to another at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi. </s> Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mr Trudeau is on his first state visit to India.

Canada has withdrawn an invitation to an alleged Sikh extremist to attend an official dinner with its Prime Minister Justin Trudeau while he is in Delhi.

Mr Trudeau, on a first state visit to India, said Jaspal Atwal should never have been invited to Thursday's meal.

Jaspal Atwal, a Canadian citizen of Indian origin, was convicted and later acquitted of trying to assassinate an Indian minister in 1986.

He is accused of having been a member of a now banned Sikh extremist group.

Earlier this week he was photographed alongside Mr Trudeau's wife, Sophie, and one of his cabinet ministers at an event in Mumbai.

Mr Trudeau, who meets his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Friday, has been fending off criticism that his government is soft on Sikh extremists during his week-long trip.

"Obviously we take this situation extremely seriously," Mr Trudeau told reporters in Delhi. "As soon as we found out we rescinded the invitation immediately."

He said the MP from his party "took full responsibility" for the dinner invitation.

Mr Atwal, now a businessman in the Canadian city of Surrey, travelled to India separately and was not part of the Canadian delegation. Indian officials say they are investigating how he was granted a visa.

Jaspal Atwal told Canada's Postmedia network that he did not plan to attend Thursday's dinner, which was being hosted by Canada's high commissioner, as he is in Mumbai on business.

He was convicted along with three others of shooting Indian minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu while he was in Vancouver on a personal visit. All four convictions were later overturned on appeal.

The minister was hit twice but survived the attack. He was assassinated in India in 1991.

Mr Atwal was a member of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) at the time of the attack, CBC News reports. It was later banned in a number of countries, including Canada and India.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mr Trudeau visited Sikhism's holiest shrine, the Golden Temple

News of the dinner invitation comes amid speculation that the Canadian prime minister has received a lukewarm reception in India, a charge both countries have denied.

Canada has a large Sikh community and Mr Trudeau's cabinet includes four Sikh-Canadians.

His administration has faced accusations that it is too soft on separatists who support a Sikh independence movement, also called the "Khalistan movement".

It seeks to create an independent homeland for the community in the Sikh-dominated northern state of Punjab.

Last April, Punjab's top elected official, Amarinder Singh, refused to meet Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, alleging he was a "Khalistani sympathiser".

But Mr Trudeau met Mr Singh this week who later told the media they had discussed the "Khalistan issue". He added that Mr Trudeau had assured him that Canada "does not support" separatist movements anywhere in the world. </s> Atwal, 63, was at centre of national controversy during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's India Trip

Jaspal Atwal, right, speaks to his lawyer Rishi T. Gill during a news conference in downtown Vancouver, on Thursday, March, 8, 2018. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press)

Jaspal Atwal, who’s invitation to a reception for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sparked national controversy, has now been charged in a B.C. court for uttering threats.

The charge stems from an incident that occurred on April 23, according to court documents.

Court documents also show that Atwal was in provincial court in Surrey April 26, where he was released on bail.

His next court appearance is May 24, where a date is expected to be set for a trial or hearing.

Atwal, 63, was convicted of attempting to kill Indian cabinet minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu during a visit to Vancouver Island in 1986.

Atwal is a former member of the Liberal riding association in Fleetwood—Port Kells.

He made national headlines after landing an invite to a Canadian government reception in India in February.

Atwal was photographed at one event in Mumbai with the prime minister’s wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau.

His invitation to a second event was rescinded after news of his presence broke.

@ashwadhwani ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.caLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. </s> Jaspal Atwal, the central figure in the controversy that surrounded the prime minister's February trip to India, has been charged with uttering threats.

He was charged in British Columbia with one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm in an alleged incident that is said to have occurred on April 23, according to documents filed in a Surrey, B.C., court.

Court documents show bail was paid three days later, and Atwal is scheduled to appear in court on May 24.

Atwal, a Canadian of Indian descent, was previously convicted of attempted murder for trying to assassinate Indian cabinet minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu while he was visiting Vancouver Island in 1986.

During Justin Trudeau's visit to India, Atwal turned up at an official event and got an invitation to another at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi.

Photos of Atwal posing with a Liberal cabinet minister and Trudeau's wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, at an Indian film industry event in Mumbai were sent to media outlets, including the CBC, touching off a public relations firestorm for the Trudeau government that continued in the House of Commons for weeks. </s> NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on Friday with a hug, one day after embarrassed Canadian diplomats had to revoke a party invitation for a man convicted of attempting to kill an Indian politician.

The invitation was the latest blunder in Trudeau’s eight-day visit, which has included everything from criticism of his colorful wardrobe to questions about whether his government is sufficiently critical of Sikh extremists.

Jaspal Atwal, a Canada-based former member of a banned Sikh separatist group, had been invited by a Canadian member of Parliament to a Thursday evening party for Trudeau at Canada’s High Commission in New Delhi.

Atwal was convicted of trying to kill an Indian Cabinet minister during a 1986 visit to Canada. The minister was shot but survived. Atwal was imprisoned, and became a businessman after his release.

Canada quickly withdrew the invitation once it was discovered, with Trudeau telling reporters: “Obviously we take this situation extremely seriously. The individual in question never should have received an invitation.”

Earlier in the week, Atwal attended a Mumbai reception at which he was photographed with Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau.

Modi still welcomed Trudeau on Friday with his signature bear hug, smiling at his wife and their three children, who also attended the formal outdoor ceremony.

In a Thursday night tweet, Modi said he looked forward to meeting Trudeau and his family, adding “I appreciate his deep commitment to ties between our two countries.”

But it hasn’t been an easy trip for Trudeau in many ways.

He’s been ridiculed in India on social media for his family’s seemingly endless wardrobe changes, with the photogenic group often appearing in colorful Indian clothing, and has faced repeated insistence that he denounce Sikh extremism.

“Sikh radicalism is the main issue,” the Hindustan Times, one of India’s largest newspapers, said in an editorial earlier this week. “Justin Trudeau should allay India’s concerns on terrorism.”

Canada has a small but politically potent Sikh population, some of whom support a breakaway Sikh state, known as Khalistan, inside India. The Indian media often describe Trudeau’s government as being soft on the Khalistan issue.

Trudeau insisted that he’d told Indian politicians that was not true. “I was pleased to be able to make very, very clear that Canada supports one united India,” he said after one meeting. </s> The former Sikh separatist militant and convicted attempted murderer whose invitation to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s official events in India sparked a political controversy has been charged with uttering threats.

Court papers show that a Jaspal Singh Atwal was charged with “uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm,” in connection with an April 23 incident in Surrey, B.C.

Global News can confirm that the man is the same Jaspal Atwal synonymous with the infamous “Atwal affair” that erupted in the wake of Trudeau’s trip to India in February.

Atwal was released on $1,000 bail before reappearing in a provincial court in Surrey on Thursday. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on May 24.

It’s not known who was the target of the alleged threats at this time.

NOTEBOOK: Rampant ‘misinformation’ on Jaspal Atwal affair sparked decision to brief reporters, says Daniel Jean

Atwal, who was convicted of trying to assassinate an Indian cabinet minister in B.C. in 1986, became a central figure in Trudeau’s troubled visit to India after he was spotted hobnobbing with members of the Canadian government delegation at an event in Mumbai.

He was also invited to a second event in New Delhi, but his invitation was rescinded after media exposed his identity to the public.

B.C. Liberal MP Randeep Sarai said he was solely responsible for the invite, but a Trudeau government official — who was not identified at the time — told reporters that rogue factions within the Indian government arranged the invitation to sabotage the trip, a suggestion that the Indian government slammed as “baseless and unacceptable.”

The official was later revealed to be national security adviser Daniel Jean.

Jean testified about the issue in the House of Commons last month, and defended his decision to speak with reporters by saying that he was obliged to counter what he described as “misinformation” circulated by Canadian news outlets.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau rescinds from Jaspal Atwal his invitation to a reception.