The Atwal Invitation Scandal Forces Surrey MP Sarai Out Of BC Caucus Chair

Surrey Centre Liberal MP Randeep Sarai had claimed responsibility last week for inviting Jaspal Atwal to a pair of high-level receptions on the trip that ended last weekend. "I want to again apologize for my role in recent unfortunate events," Sarai said on Twitter Tuesday evening following his resignation from BC Caucus Chair. Atwal told the DESIBUZZCanada this week that he has already paid the price for youthful indiscretion that he has served time for and now regrets doing. "I thought society was supposed to help you heal after you make a mistake and serve the time and try to make yourself a better person," Atwal told the DESIBUZZCanada. "I have done that by the media is being paid to do all this Khalistan extremism propaganda now when all that happened in the 1980s."

By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor-Founder DESIBUZZCanada

With News Files

SURREY – While he may gotten the political "clean chit" from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Surrey Centre MP Randeep Sarai stepped down from his role as BC Caucus Chair for the federal Liberals, a move many say was hinted to him by the PMO and other advisors who didn't want to further embarrass the rookie MP after the outcry from the Jaspal Atwal invitation to Trudeau's functions in India last week.

Sarai had claimed responsibility last week for inviting Jaspal Atwal to a pair of high-level receptions on the trip that ended last weekend.

"I want to again apologize for my role in recent unfortunate events," Sarai said on Twitter Tuesday evening.

"Moving forward, I will be exercising better judgment. As I don't want to distract from the good work of the Pacific Caucus, I will be stepping down as caucus chair," he said.

Soon after that message appeared, the Prime Minister's Office said Trudeau has accepted Sarai's resignation and that the MP "has accepted responsibility for his error in judgment."

Atwal was a member of an illegal Sikh separatist group and was convicted of attempting to assassinate Indian cabinet minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu during a visit to Vancouver Island in 1986 but he told the DESIBUZZCanada this week that he has already paid the price for youthful indiscretion that he has served time for and now regrets doing.

"I thought society was supposed to help you heal after you make a mistake and serve the time and try to make yourself a better person," Atwal told the DESIBUZZCanada. "I have done that by the media is being paid to do all this Khalistan extremism propaganda now when all that happened in the 1980s."

Atwal has political contacts as a former member of the Liberal riding association in Fleetwood—Port Kells, in the Vancouver suburbs. He has actually worked and been involved with other political parties including the Conservatives, even meeting former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other Conservative MP and Minister during the Harper government.

In fact, a cheque for $500 from Atwal to former MP Gurmant Grewal, who also wrote a reference letter for Atwal, was circulated in the South Asian media.

"Since his release from prison in 1992, Mr. Atwal has been coping well with his rehabilitation and is becoming a productive member of society," Grewal wrote in the letter dated November 13, 2002.

Atwal attended at least one event tied to the Trudeau visit where he was pictured with the prime minister's wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi. An invitation extended to Atwal to dine at a reception for the prime minister in Delhi, an event hosted by the Canadian High Commissioner last Thursday, was rescinded.

The incident dominated international headlines on a trip that was supposed to have trade as its primary focus.