Canada assures action on Khalistan activists
Thursday, 13/09/2012
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NEW DELHI: Amid reports of stepped up activities of Khalistan activists in Canada, Canadian foreign minister John Baird on Wednesday assured India that his country was committed to curbing extremist groups and stressed on enhancing bilateral counterterror cooperation.
“We are committed to doing whatever we can within the limits of the constitution to curb activities of extremist groups in Canada,” Baird told reporters here when asked about a recent rise in the activities of Khalistani separatists in Canada.
Khalistan activists have been campaigning for a separate homeland for Sikhs in India.
“Once the activities of these groups are brought to our notice, we take action,” he said.
Baird was speaking at a joint press interaction with external affairs minister SM Krishna after their talks. At the discussions, the two countries decided to expand their counter-terror cooperation.
According to Vikram Bajwa, president of the Indian Overseas Congress, a UK-based organisation of the Indian diaspora, Pakistan has been stoking the fire of Khalistan separatism among NRI Punjabis in the US and Canada and also patronising the election of many Punjabi NRIs there.
