A
former Sikh militant apologized Thursday for causing embarrassment to
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his trip to India.
Jaspal
Atwal, who was part of a movement that supported an independent Sikh
nation in the 1980s and went to prison for the attempted murder of a
visiting Indian minister in 1986, was invited to a dinner with Trudeau
in New Delhi causing consternation among his hosts.
Trudeau's visit to India had already been dogged by suspicions that Canada was soft on Sikh separatists.
"I
am sorry for any embarrassment this matter has caused to Canada, India,
my community and my family," the 62-year-old told a news conference.
"I
renounce any form of terrorism," he said. "I do not advocate for an
independent Sikh nation. I, like the vast majority of Sikhs who once
advocated for this cause, have reconciled with the nation of India."
Since
his parole, Atwal said he has engaged broadly in politics on behalf of
the Indo-Canadian community, and visited India numerous times including
three visits over the past year, each time "with the full permission of
the Indian government."
Source: Yahoo
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