So the trip to India did not go so well. The lowlight seems to be the invitation of one Jaspal Atwal to an official state dinner. Mr. Atwal was convicted in 1986 of attempted murder of an India cabinet minister visiting British Columbia Canada. Also charged but not convicted of an 1985 attack on Ujjal Dosanjh, more political violence. In Atwal's story there is also a 2010 automobile fraud conviction.
While it seems poor judgment to be hosting Atwal over in India, was it really? Here in Canada, from the NP story "Atwal had a position on a federal Liberal riding association executive in Surrey" as recently as 2012. So the Liberals are comfortable in Canada with Atwal, his views, his background in political violence, and general criminality.
The thing about the crime is, ordinary crime one can recover and rehabilitate from, and then the reformed individual, former criminal, can become political. However political violence is a crime against democracy, it's a different thing. I can't see how any respectable mainstream political party could associate itself with an individual twice accused, once convicted, of extreme political violence.
So if the Liberals are fine with Atwal in Canada - I guess as long as he can deliver votes and seats from certain target communities. Then it is consistent for the Liberals to be fine with Atwal in India. You can hardly renounce and non grata Atwal over in India, then come back in Canada and somehow flip and be friendly and comfortable with the individual.
To be clear it was correct for the Trudeau and the Liberals to distance themselves from Atwal overseas. Proper and long, long overdue. It was also correct to stay clear and disassociate from Atwal long ago in Canada as well.
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