Convicted Khalistan extremist's India visit not illegal; here's why

Feb 22,2018

Convicted Khalistan extremist's India visit not illegal; here's why

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau being received by Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on his arrival in Amritsar 
The Union home ministry had taken Jaspal Atwal, a convicted Khalistani separatist, off its blacklist years ago which means that his entry into India is neither ''illegal'' nor flouting any law. Atwal's entry into India has sparked a fresh controversy and hurt ''diplomatic sensitivity'' with his presence at the dinner in honour of visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 

However, home ministry sources said that his entry into the country was not illegal as he had been taken off the MHA's blacklist after a review by the security agencies and state government a few years ago. A person is struck off the blacklist when the security agencies feel that he is no longer a ''threat'' from the point of view of terrorist or criminal activity. 

The home ministry's blacklist includes names of terrorists and other persons who are seen as a high security threat and risk, thereby barring them from entering the country. "Atwal's entry into the country is not an illegal entry. So, as far as the security point of view, we cannot say that he has flouted any law by entering the country,'' said an MHA official.

The home ministry reviews its blacklist from time to time, and under several such procedures in the last few years, it had struck off names of around 150 Sikh extremists from the blacklist. Sources said the review of the blacklist was done in consultation with the Punjab government and central security agencies. The removal of names from the list meant they are no longer under watch of security agencies and that they could visit India.

A Sikh separatist belonging to the banned International Sikh Youth Federation, Atwal had been convicted for attempt to murder of then Punjab minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in Vancouver in 1986. Sidhu was shot at twice and later assassinated in India . 

Sources in the government said that despite his name not figuring on the blacklist, the issue is one of political and diplomatic sensitivity as New Delhi does not want to be seen hosting the Khalistani separatist leader. Realising this, the MEA is already looking into the matter as to how he figured on the guest list in the first place.

Meanwhile, Trudeau has said during his visit that he condemned violent extremism and has assured the chief minister of Punjab that his government is not sympathetic to the Sikh separatists.