Toronto: 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," Singh, who is here to
attend the G-20 Summit, told Toronto Star in an interview.
Singh, a Sikh himself, has 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," Singh said.
"We feel that vigilance and close co-operation between
both governments on the issue is necessary."
Responding to a question on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots
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."
"A judicial commission was set up to look into these
attacks. Recently, one of the cases was heard in the Delhi
Sessions Court on the basis of the charges framed by the
Central Bureau of Investigation," Singh said when asked
whether the government has failed to bring to justice the
perpetrators of the 1984 riots.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, June 26, 2010, 22:05