Trudeau stands by government official floating Atwal theory

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is standing by a senior government official who floated the theory that rogue political factions in India orchestrated the embarrassing invitation of a would-be political assassin to a formal dinner to make the Canadian government appear sympathetic to Sikh extremism.

Trudeau was forced to defend himself multiple times during last week's trip to India

CBC News Posted: Feb 27, 2018 6:10 PM EST | Last Updated: February 27, 2018

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stands during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The Opposition hit Trudeau hard during question period Tuesdaythe prime minister's first since his India trip over how JaspalAtwalwas invited to two receptions in India.

Atwal was a member of an illegal Sikh separatist group andwas convicted of attempting to assassinate Indian cabinet minister Malkiat Singh Sidhuin 1986.He was also chargedbut not convictedin the 1985 attack on Ujjal Dosanjh, who later became B.C. premier and a federal Liberal cabinet minister.

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In a background briefing arranged by the Prime Minister's Office,a senior government official with knowledge of the prime minister's security protocols suggested to reporters that the invitation fiasco was arranged by factions within the Indian government.

Trudeau on Atwal theory

6 years ago

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau answers a question from Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer about Jaspal Atwal's alleged connections with Indian state intelligence

TheConservativesidentified the official as Trudeau's national security adviser, Daniel Jean, and pressured Trudeauto say whether he agrees with Jean's "conspiracy theory."

"A senior security official made these allegations. Does the prime minister agree or disavow those allegations?" asked

Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer.

When one of our top diplomats and security officials says something to Canadians it's because they know it to be true.- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Trudeauused his response time to accuse the previous Conservative government of using the public service for political means.

"Our professional, non-partisan public service does high quality work and when one of our top diplomats and security officials says something to Canadians, it's because they know it to be true," Trudeau responded.

Trudeau meeting with MP Tuesday

Atwal attended at least one event tied to the Trudeau visit at which he was photographed with Sophie Trudeau and Minister of Infrastructure and CommunitiesAmarjeetSohi.

Atwal received his invitation through B.C. Liberal MP Randeep Sarai, who put the former member of a banned extremist group on the guest list for a dinner at the Canadian High Commission in India.

Sophie Trudeau and Jaspal Atwal are pictured together in Mumbai on Feb. 20. (Name withheld by request)

He also was invited to dine with the prime ministerat a formal event hosted by the Canadian High Commissioner Thursday in Delhi, but that invitation was later rescinded.

Trudeau said he would meet withSaraiTuesday.

The Surrey member of Parliament, one of 14 MPs who travelled with Trudeau,sent out a statement last week taking the blame.

"Let me be clear this person should never have been invited in the first place," he said.

"I alone facilitated his request to attend this important event. I should have exercised better judgment, and I take full responsibility for my actions."

With files from the Canadian Press

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Trudeau stands by government official floating Atwal theory

Trudeau was forced to defend himself multiple times during last week's trip to India

Trudeau on Atwal theory

Trudeau meeting with MP Tuesday

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