Amid ongoing controversy over the presence of Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal at an official state reception of Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he looks forward to meeting his Canadian counterpart.

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"I look forward to meeting PM @JustinTrudeau tomorrow and holding talks on further strengthening India-Canada relations in all spheres. I appreciate his deep commitment to ties between our two countries," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet.

Modi also said that he looks forward to meeting his children Xavier, Ella-Grace, and Hadrien.

"I hope PM Justin Trudeau and his family had a very enjoyable stay so far," Modi added.

The Prime Minister also shared a picture from his 2015 Canada visit, when he had met PM Trudeau and Ella-Grace.

 

Trudeau, who is in India on a week-long State visit, has been under pressure throughout his tour to answer Indian concerns about Sikh separatism in Canada.

Meanwhile,  External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the government is 'ascertaining' details as to how convicted Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal got a visa to enter India.

A controversy erupted after Canadian High Commissioner Nadir Patel invited Atwal for a dinner which he was hosting for the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his delegation tonight.

Atwal was convicted for trying to kill the then Punjab minister Malkiat Singh Sidhu in Vancouver in 1986.

 

The cancellation of the invitation comes at a time when Trudeau's pro-Khalistan approach is being criticised by many including Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who raised the issue with the Canadian prime minister during a meeting.

On his part, Trudeau assured Singh that his country does not support separatism in India or elsewhere.