Who is Jaspal Atwal, the convicted Khalistani terrorist seen at PM Trudeau's event in India?

It took only a couple of photos to taint Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's picture-perfect visit to India.

The 46-year-old leader and wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau were photographed with convicted Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal at a dinner reception in Mumbai.

Once Atwal was spotted and identified, questions about his links to Trudeau and as to why he was invited in the first place began raining of Trudeau's parade.

Trudeau had remained tight-lipped when questioned about Atwal's presence at his dinner reception...until now.

"The photo-op with Jaspal Atwal was an unfortunate event. We have rescinded his invitation," PM Justin Trudeau said, breaking his silence on the issue.

Canadian MP Kirsty Duncan also commented saying Atwal "of course shouldn't have been invited," and that they are "looking into how it happened,".

Meanwhile, concerns are also being raised as to how Atwal, convicted for attempting to murder an Indian minister once, managed to get his visa by the Minister of External Affairs.

Jaspal Atwal is known to have been associated with Khalisthani separatists outfit International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), which is banned in both Canada and India as a terrorist outfit.

Atwal was a convict in the attempted murder case



of former Punjab Minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in 1986, who was later assassinated in 1991.

After being found guilty, Atwal, along with three other convicts, was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment. 

The verdict, however, was later overturned for improperly obtained evidence. Atwal later admitted that he was 

the shooter that day to the parole board, reported Vancouver Sun.

A report in Toronto Sun says Atwal had later admitted to the parole board that he had been the shooter in the murder attempt on Malkiat Singh Sidhu.

Over the years, Atwal was also charged for attacking Canadian lawyer and politician Ujjal Dosanjh in 1985.

According to CBS, Atwal was also convicted and charged in an automobile fraud case but was not convicted.

In 2011, Atwal also lost a 28,000 USD decision against the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia as he was involved in a car fraud ring involving many people along with his own son, said CBC, a Canadian daily's report.

Atwal currently lives in Canada and works as a businessman associated with Media Wave Communications.

He has also been a leader of the Liberal Party of Canada in Surrey.

Reports also suggest that Atwal and Trudeau have "known each other for a while".