Justin Trudeau’s visit to India suffered another setback when it was revealed a convicted Sikh terrorist was on the invitation list for two engagements with the Canadian prime minister.

Jaspal Atwal a pro-Khalistan separatist campaigning for an independent Sikh homeland in India, was pictured with the PM’s wife, Sophie, at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday and was on the guest list for a dinner in Delhi on Thursday.

The Canadian High Commissioner to India, Nadir Patel, subsequently rescinded the dinner invite to Atwal, but the diplomatic gaffe is the latest unwanted headline in a trip that has seen the Indian government accused of snubbing the Canadian leader.

Despite Canadian diplomats responding by nixing the invitation, the timing of the revelation is problematic for Mr Trudeau, who is due to meet Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, on Friday.

Atwal, a Canadian Sikh based in Canada, was convicted of trying to assassinate Punjab minister Malkiat Singh Sondhi while he was on a visit to Vancouver, in 1986. Mr Sondhi was shot twice and survived, but was later killed in India by pro-Khalistan activists.