Premier, Surrey mayor pose with convicted gunman
B.C. Premier John Horgan, Surrey MLA Jinny Sims and Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner all posed for a photograph with convicted gunman and Radio India owner Maninder Gill at a private Surrey residence this week.
The photo, which is being circulated widely, was taken Sept. 6 at the home of Kulwant Dhesi, a community leader and longtime Sims supporter.
Dhesi said Friday that he invited the politicians to his newly-built home for a private function.
And he said he invited Gill, who is out on bail awaiting a hearing on his appeal, because he is a friend of his.
Gill was convicted in B.C. Supreme Court last year of aggravated assault and other counts for the 2010 shooting of Harjit Atwal outside a wedding at Surrey’s Guru Nanak temple.
Gill was handed a four-year sentence, but was released pending his appeal.
Horgan said in a statement Friday that he didn’t know Gill would be at the event, attended by about 40 people.
“As premier, I work hard to get out and meet people in communities across B.C., and I can’t always control who I meet. I did not know Maninder Gill would be at this event,” Horgan said.
“He has been convicted of a very serious crime, and I unequivocally condemn his actions and those of any person who perpetrates gun violence. This violence is fundamentally at odds with our values as a government and as New Democrats.”
Hepner told Postmedia on Friday that she accepted the invitation from Dhesi because he told her she could have a private chat with Horgan.
“I was there because the new premier of the province was going to a private home in Surrey and I was offered the opportunity to have some one-on-one time with him and I thought it was important so I went on that basis,” she said.
She saw Gill at the event once she arrived, but did not know he was in the group photo when she joined it.
“There were lots of people saying ‘Can we have a photograph’ and I am going to be very honest with you — naively so, I didn’t even look around to see who was in the photograph. I just stood there and then left,” Hepner said.
“You know how adamantly opposed I am to gun violence so I would not have knowingly said ‘Let’s have a picture.’ I would not. It is what it is. It wouldn’t happen again. It was not my intention to be in a photo.”
Hepner did get the chance to talk to Horgan privately and raised the ongoing gang and gun violence in her city, among other issues.
“Yes I talked to the premier about the ongoing violence not only in the Lower Mainland but across the province and we talked about the many issues where I need help,” she said. “I got his assurance that his door was going to be open and that his ministers are working hard.”
She said she didn’t know in advance that Gill would be present
“I had no idea who was going to be there other than Jinny Sims and the premier and his chief of staff,” she said.
Sims issued a statement saying Gill should not have been at the event.
“I was not aware of the full guest list or that Maninder Gill would be in attendance. Anyone who knows me understands that I abhor violence. I have spent my life fighting against violence of all types. Maninder Gill was convicted of a very serious crime that I do not condone in any way. He should not have been there,” she said.
Atwal said Friday he was disappointed that politicians would be photographed with someone convicted of a violent crime.
Gill told Postmedia Friday that he has met many politicians of all stripes since his conviction in March 2016.
“I lived in this country for 40 years and whenever people do functions, they invite me. There is always politicians,” said Gill, who now runs Radio India online only.
I talked to the premier about the ongoing violence not only in the Lower Mainland but across the province …