Atwal asked to attend India event
A man at the centre of a controversy surrounding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent visit to India says he has renounced terrorism and no longer advocates for Sikh separatism.
Jaspal Atwal said Thursday that since he was convicted of trying to kill an Indian cabinet minister in 1986, he has tried to contribute to Canadian society and those efforts include meeting politicians from various parties.
Atwal, 62, said he was one of many Sikhs who got “caught up’’ in the separatism movement almost 40 years ago.
“While nothing can excuse my conduct, I can only say that during that time in the early 1980s I reacted to the Indian army storming the Golden Temple ... in a way that has caused much pain to many individuals,’’ he told a news conference at his lawyer’s office in Vancouver.
“I have nothing but regret and remorse for my actions.’’
Before he recently left for a trip to India, Atwal said he contacted Liberal MP Randeep Sarai to see if there was a chance for him to attend a reception with Trudeau.
Atwal went to the reception
in Mumbai and was photographed with Trudeau’s wife, causing a political and diplomatic uproar. An invitation Atwal received to another reception in New Delhi was rescinded as soon as news broke that he was on the guest list.
Atwal said he received an invitation from the Canadian ambassador after asking Sarai.
“When my attendance became the news story that brings
us here today, I was completely shocked and devastated,’’ he said. “When I asked to consider attending the reception, I had assumed there would be no problem. No one at any point indicated there would be any issue.’’
The fallout has been difficult for him and his family, said Atwal, who lives in Surrey, B.C.
“In the end, I am sorry for the embarrassment this matter has caused to Canada, India, my community and family and friends,’’ he added.
“However, I want to again stress this, that terrible event that happened in the past is something I live with every day and something that I take complete responsibility for. I, like the Sikh community and Indians generally, have moved on from the issue that divided us almost 40 years ago.’’