Atwal tired of being 'raked over the coals' in the media, says his lawyer

Jaspal Atwal the man convicted of attempted murder whose appearance duringJustin Trudeau's India tour led to global humiliation for the prime minister hadevery legal right to be in India at the time and he's sick of being "raked over the coals" in the media, says his lawyer.

RishiGill saidAtwal a former member of a banned Sikh separatist group who showed up in photostaken with SophieGrgoireTrudeau and Infrastructure MinisterAmarjeetSohiduring the India tour is not a security threat and shouldn't be punished for something he did in the distant past.

Atwal is holding a press conference in Vancouver today to "set the record straight," Gill said.

CBCNews.ca will carry his remarks live starting at 1 p.m. ET.

"He was given a 20 year sentence [and] after five years the parole board found that he was a very low risk to re-offend," said the lawyer. "He's integrated back into society in exactly the most optimal manner we expect."

Atwalwas convictedof the attempted murder of Indian cabinet minister MalkiatSinghSidhuduring a visit to Vancouver Island in 1986.He was also chargedbut not convictedin a 1985 attack on Ujjal Dosanjh, who later became B.C. premier and a federal Liberal cabinet minister. More recently, he was found liable in an automobile fraud case.

When photographs recentlysurfaced of Atwal posing with Canadian officials in Mumbai, media in India and Canada asked how he was able to obtain a travel visa and secure invitations to formal events linked to Trudeau's official tour including one, later rescinded, to a dinnerhosted by the Canadian High Commissioner in Delhi.

"There were absolutely no issues with his legal ability to travel," said Gill.

"He had gone to India previously. Mr.Atwalhad no restrictions placed on him by the Indian government. I think that's very, very telling."

Liberal MP RandeepSaraihas since apologizedfor inviting Atwalto Trudeau's India receptions and hasresignedas the Liberals' Pacific caucus chair.

Rogue agents in India

A senior government official with knowledge of the prime minister's security protocols suggested to reporters in a background briefing, arranged by the Prime Minister's Office,that Atwal'sinvitationswere arranged by factions within the Indian government.

Conservatives later identified the official asDaniel Jean,Trudeau's national security adviser.

Gill said Atwal has no political axe to grind in his press conference today.

"He's not out to damage anyone or undercut any politician, be it Liberal or Conservative," he said. "He is out there to give his side of the story of what'soccurredand it's actually quite benign."

Atwal has been very active in political circles in British Columbia and has been photographed with numerous politicians over the years.

"He has a family, he is grandfather. He's a senior citizen now and yet he's being raked over the coals for something he did a long, long time ago," said Gill.

He added theSikh communityin Canada hasmoved past Atwal'shistory and so should everyone else.

"The discussion with respect to Sikh terrorism or Punjabi separatists or this idea of a Khalistan nation that is not what anybody is concerned about," he said."There's no movement or violence in support of that idea. That's a cause that's just not of concern."

Gill and Atwal are scheduled to speak to reporters at 10 a.m. PST. today in Vancouver.