New Delhi, Feb 22: Jaspal Atwal, an India-origin businessman in Canada, created a controversy after being photographed with Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, the wife of visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, during an event in Mumbai on Tuesday. Subsequently, it was revealed that Atwal has also been included in the list of invitees for the dinner to be held tonight at the Canadian High Commission in the national capital.

To avoid further embarrassment, the Canadian embassy immediately rescinded the invitation, with Trudeau issuing a statement assuring action against the erring officials.

Who is Jaspal Atwal?

Atwal is a convicted Khalistani terrorist who was associated with the banned Sikh militant outfit - the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). He was involved in the assassination attempt of late Shiromani Akali Dal leader and then Punjab Cabinet Minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in 1986.

Atwal, along with three other ISYF members, fired shots at Sidhu in Vancouver, where he had went to attend his nephew's wedding. Although Sidhu survived the assassination attempt, he was killed five years later in Moga, Punjab by Khalistani militants.

A trial court had convicted Atwal, along with  Jasbir Singh Atwal, Armajit Singh Dhindsa and Sukhdial Singh Gill for the murder attempt of Sidhu. They were sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment.

The ISYF, whose member was Atwal, is also responsible for carrying out the mid-air blast on the Air India flight in 1985, which killed 329 people.

The outfit was banned by India in 2001, enlisting it under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Subsequently, the UK, the USA and Canada had also extended the ban.

Atwal is now associated with Media Wave Communications, which runs an online radio station in UK's Surrey.

In recent years, he has been seen at political events in Canada, with his image also propping up with Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of public meeting conducted by the Liberal Party.

Reacting on the current controversy,the Canadian Prime Minister's Office issued a statement clarifying that Atwal was not part of the delegation which travelled along with Trudeau to India.

"As is the case with international trips, individuals sometimes travel on their own to the location of the visit,” a media release stated.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said a probe would be conducted to ascertain how Atwal, flagged for his role in Khalistan movement, was issued the visa by New Delhi.

Meanwhile, a senior Ministry of Home Affairs official, while speaking to PTI said Atwal's name is no longer included in the MHA blacklist, which could had resulted in the issuance of visa.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 22, 2018 07:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).