Political News

India tells PM Harper that Canadian Sikh Diaspora is “extremist”

November 6, 2012 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

New Delhi/Ludhaina, India (November 06, 2012): India has once again shouted it’s alleged concerns about so-called “Sikh extremism” in Canada.

According to media reports: “It’s the latest in a string of efforts by Indian authorities, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to press Ottawa to stay vigilant about Sikhs in Canada who favour the establishment of Khalistan”.

This time Preneet Kaur, India’s Minister of State of External Affairs is reported to have repeated India’s allegations against political activism of Canadian Sikh diaspora.

Parneet Kaur is a Congress Party MP. The Congress Party is facing a suit in a United States Federal court for perpetrating the Sikh Genocide 1984, a series of widespread and systematic massacres of Sikhs carried in November 1984 throughout India.

She is reported to have made a complaint against Canadian Sikh diaspora to the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during a meeting at a hotel in New Delhi.

According to a news report by the ‘Globe and Mail’: Parneet Kaur said that Indian government was worried about the rise of “anti-India rhetoric” in Canada.

“I am from the state of Punjab, which we are very happy you will be visiting,” she said, speaking from notes in front of a group of dignitaries and media.

“We have after very hard times got a good situation of peace and progress back in Punjab and in India and we would like that to continue – so it does concern us,” Ms. Kaur said.

“I think we do appreciate very much that you have very been forthright and open about your stand on this,” Parneet Kaur told the prime minister during the meeting at the ITC Maurya hotel in New Delhi.

It is notable in 2010 the Canadian Sikhs had strongly opposed the Canada visit of Indian Minister Kamal Nath, who is considered to be a prime suspect of Sikh Genocide 1984. In June 2010 a petition was moved in Ontario Parliament to seek recognition for November 1984 killing of Sikhs as “Genocide” as defined in Article 2 of the UN Convention on prevention and punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Since then Indian authorities has repeatedly alleged that Sikhs in Canada are extremists, urging Canada to “curb” the “Sikh extremism”. Recently India has started accusing the Sikh diaspora for plotting to revive militant movement in Punjab. These efforts are being viewed as attempts by Indian State to contain political activism of the Sikh diaspora.

As the Canadian PM Stephen Harper is on a visit to India, many Sikh organizations have asked Mr. Harper to raise the issue of denial of justice to the victims of 1984 Sikh Genocide with the Indian authorities.

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Related Topics: 1984 Sikh Genocide, Indian State, November 1984, Preneet Kaur, Sikh Diaspora, Sikh News Canada, Stephen Harper

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