Even as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in India recently, seemed to back the ‘conspiracy theory’ on Canada-based Khalistani activist Jaspal Atwal’s presence during an event, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said neither the government nor security agencies had anything to do with it. Atwal was apparently present at an event organised by Canadian High Commissioner in Mumbai.

Atwal, who was earlier convicted attempting to murder Punjab Minister in 1986, was invited in two events in honour of Trudeau in Mumbai and Delhi. After strong criticism, Canadian High Commission had to cancel the dinner invitation given to him.

As per Canadian media, officials linked Atwal’s presence to an attempt by malicious elements in the Indian government in order to embarrass the visiting prime minister on the issue of Sikh separatist activity in Canada.

The Canadian PM, while addressing his country’s Parliament on Tuesday, did not reject the “çonspiracy theory” too. On being asked on the matter he said,“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,” CBCNews reported. However, Canadian MP Randeep S Sarai took responsibility of inviting Atwal at Trudeau’s reception in New Delhi.

“We have seen the recent exchange in the Parliament of Canada regarding two invitations issued to Jaspal Atwal by the Canadian High Commissioner, for functions hosted in honour of the Canadian Prime Minister in India,” MEA official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on a query regarding an invitation to Jaspal Atwal.

He further said that the Government of India, including security agencies, neither had anything to do with the presence of Jaspal Atwal at the event hosted by Canadian High Commissioner in Mumbai nor the invitation issued to him for the Canadian High Commissioner’s reception in Delhi. “Any suggestion to the contrary is baseless and unacceptable.”

Atwal was convicted in an attempted murder case in 1987, after shooting Malkiat Singh Sidhu, who was visiting family on Vancouver Island.