Khalistan in decline

published by Asianpost on Thu, 05/22/2008 - 15:50

Canadian High Commissioner to India David Malone Wednesday said in New Delhi this week that Canadians were being made aware that Khalistan backers did not enjoy any support in Punjab.

Replying to questions about Khalistani elements raising their voice in Canada again in recent months, particularly in the Metro Vancouver suburb of Surrey during this year's Vaisakhi celebrations, Malone said the Canadian government was concerned about the issue.

"We know that there are fringe elements (of Khalistan) in Canada. We are trying to make people aware that they do not enjoy any support in Punjab," said the high commissioner, who was on a visit here.

He stressed that the Canadian government took terrorism seriously. "The Kanishka tragedy has been a traumatic experience for Canada. Terrorism is a global problem and disposal of terrorists is a concern for all countries," Malone said.

On June 23, 1985, a mid-air explosion on Air India's Kanishka Flight 182 from Toronto to New Delhi killed 329 people over the Atlantic. Hundreds of immigrants from Punjab have settled in Canada in the last few decades.

The Canadian high commissioner earlier met the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana separately and held talks on investment opportunities.

He particularly commended the growth story of Gurgaon city in Haryana, adjoining the national capital, and added that Canadian investors had shown interest in investing there.
-IANS