By Maura Forrest
Sophie Trudeau and Jaspal Atwal pictured in Mumbai Feb. 20. The Trudeaus attended a business and cultural event in the city that evening celebrating Indian cinema.
...But Jaspal Atwal, (click here) who was photographed with Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday, already had something of a history of inserting himself into Canadian Liberal politics before he was invited to the event on Thursday by MP Randeep Sarai.
Here’s what we know about Atwal, including his criminal history and his ties to federal and provincial politics.
Atwal was once a member of the International Sikh Youth Federation, an extremist group aiming to establish an independent Khalistan that was banned in Canada as a terrorist group in 2003. He was one of four men who shot and wounded an Indian cabinet minister, Malkiat Singh Sidhu, on Vancouver Island in 1986, and was convicted of attempted murder for his part in the attack. He served jail time and was later paroled.
Atwal was also charged with a 1985 attack on former B.C. premier and Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh, a vocal opponent of the Sikh separatist movement, but was later acquitted....
No one believes a man that has already served his time for previous wrong doing should have his freedom infringed upon more than necessary, but, this was a surprise to the Canadian delegation and that is more than a concern.
Mr. Atwal's previous affiliations seem to still be his interest.
Jaspal Atwal, (click here) who was active in banned International Sikh Youth Federation, posed with Canadian PM's wife at event in Mumbai.
A former agent for a then terrorist organization cannot simply show up for tea and crumpets. Mr. Atwal needs to denounce his previous affiliations and show real reason to be considered a person of interest to an international dialogue.
Khalistān is supposed to be in the Punjab region of South Asia. The territorial definition of the proposed country Khalistan ranges from the Punjab, including Lahore, to parts of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan.
Only a couple of weeks ago there was renewed fighting in this region that extends since November of last year. How can anyone still affiliated with such unrest be part of an international delegation that isn't engaged in any peace initiative?
December 25, 2017
Minister of State (click here) for Home Hansraj Ahir has said Pakistan has violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir 771 times till December 10, and 110 times along the IB till November-end.
Like, ahh, I don't think so.
A fresh initiative to bring in peace in restive Jammu and Kashmir, tightening the noose on “erring” NGOs and cross-border firing-related incidents kept the Union Home Ministry busy in 2017. Violence perpetrated by Maoists, prolonged agitation in Darjeeling demanding a separate Gorkhaland state and providing help to states to maintain law and order were some of the other issues that the ministry had to deal with over the year....
Do NOT. DO NOT EVER....recruit children to carry out the responsibility of government.
...Based on his recommendation, the Jammu and Kashmir government has already taken an initiative to withdraw cases against around 5,000 youths who were accused of pelting security forces with stones and identified as “first time offenders”....
How is India to move forward to ALL THE PEOPLE when this level of hatred continues to exist. It is unconscionable to believe someone like Jaspar Atwal would be included in any international effort to expand trade relations in hopes of moving forward with a peaceful India?
Mr. Atwal needs to denounce his previous activities and ask for forgiveness in ever thinking those levels of discord and violence could ever be a part of an international community that recognizes a better way with peace than continued civil unrest with potential war and continued instability in the region.
Mr. Atwal has a role in the region and that is to bring an end to the hatred and divisions he once caused.
