INDO-CANADA

Trudeau blames India, backs 'Atwal theory'

trudeau-7-reuters (File) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during women business leaders' roundtable in Mumbai | Reuters

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not refute the 'conspiracy theory' that Indian government factions sabotaged his trip by approving the visa for Pro-Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal.

Responding to a Conservative leader's question about the "allegations" made by a senior government security source, Trudeau said, "When one of our top diplomats and security officials says something to Canadians it's because they know it to be true." Adding that it was the previous Conservative government that "torqued the public service every possible way they could."

Meanwhile, reports also suggested that the Indian government was denied access to the guest list for Trudeau's reception.

Amidst questions over invitation of Khalistani terrorist for Justin Trudeau's reception in India, reports have emerged that the Indian government authority was denied access to the guest list, reports CTV News.

On that note, the Prime Minister's Office in Canada does not allow even the security services track their guest list. Earlier, Canada's Public Safety Minister hailed the security services in relation to the visit.

"All Canadians can be assured that our police and our security agencies have done their job in relation to this visit and they have done it very well", said Ralph Goodale, Canada's Public Safety Minister, in the assembly, as quoted by CTV News.

During Prime Minister Trudeau's visit to India, 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 The invite was later rescinded.

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

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

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