Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said there are some elements “wedded to terrorism” outside India, including in Canada, who try to keep the issue of Sikh militancy alive and asked Ottawa to curb such anti-India activities from its soil.
“Sikh extremism, separatism and militancy were a problem in India more than two decades ago. Today, Punjab is at peace and there is growth and prosperity. There are, however, some elements outside India, including in Canada, who try to keep this issue alive for their own purposes. In many cases, such elements have links to or are themselves wedded to terrorism,” Dr. Singh, who is here to attend the G-20 Summit told the Toronto Star in an interview.
Dr. Singh, a Sikh himself, asked Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in at least two of his three bilateral meetings, to crack down on Sikh extremists in Canada, the newspaper said.
Such Indian complaints date back to the 1985 Air India bombing which killed all 329 on board, the worst terrorist atrocity in Canadian history, it said.
“Their activities are a reason for both governments — in India and in Canada — to be concerned. We have sensitised the Canadian authorities in this matter. We have been pointing out that Sikh extremism in Canada, which has no support in India, is not good for Canada.”
Responding to a question on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Dr. Singh said, “It is not correct to say that India has failed to bring the perpetrators of the 1984 attacks on Sikhs in New Delhi to justice.”
