New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) The Canadian authorities have "clarified" that invitation extended to the alleged former Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal for official dinner for Canadian Prime Minister JustinTrudeau was due to "oversight".
MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday that the fact that the invitation extended to Mr Atwal has been withdrawn, it shows that "they (Canadian authorities) have taken into account India's concerns and I think we just need to move on from there".
To a question, he also said the fact that India has issued Visa to him means Atwal is not an Indian citizen.
To another question, MEA spokesman said, "On his presence.....I think this is something that should be addressed to the Canadian side. I believe they have already clarified. They have said it was an oversight and that is the reason the invitation for the reception tonight has been withdrawn".
On the visa issue, he said, there are different channels and criteria used for getting entry permission to India.
"We are ascertaining details from our mission....we will have to see how this happened," he said.
Major row sparked off after reports surfaced that Atwal said to have been 'convicted' of attempt to the murder of Punjab minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in 1986 was invited by the Government of Canada for an official dinner party of the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau.
To a question, MEA spokesman said he was not aware of the presence of another former Khalistani militant Paramjith Singh Randhawa.
Mr Kumar skirted a direct reply on whether External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj raised the issue in her meeting with the Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland but said, "all matters of interest" figured in the talks.
"It was a good meeting," he said about the high-level meeting between two Foreign Ministers and said, "they discussed matters on energy, security, people to people contact...basically I can say all matters which are of interest to us came up for discussions".
UNI DEVN SHK 1902