Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today made it clear to Canada and the Sikh community that the Canadian soil should not be allowed to be used for promoting extremism against India.
"The Sikh community in Canada is prosperous and well integrated with the Canadian life. Most of them are peace loving and good citizens of Canada," he told reporters at a joint media interaction in the company of host Prime Minister Stephen Harper after their bilateral talks.
"But a small group of people have taken to the path of extremism which does great disservice to the the Sikh community, India and good relationship with Canada," he said.The Prime Minister's comments assume significance in the context of demands by a section of the Sikh community here that the Indian government remove them from a "blacklist" that denies them entry to India.
It also comes close on the heels of the 25th anniversary of the bombing of Air India plane 'Kanishka' in 1985 which claimed the lives of 329 people in which some Khalistani extremists living in Canada were believed to be involved.
Singh, himself a Sikh, said he was of the "fervent hope" that the community would not not allow its religious institutions and other places to encourage extremism.
"Extremism of the religious variety is something not not in tune with the growing realities of the integrated world community and globalised community," he said.
He said people of diverse background and opinion must "learn to live together in as clear partners in prosperity."
"I have discussed with Prime Minister Harper that the Canadian soil is not not used to promote extremism. The Prime Minister told me there are laws which set out limitations which are existing. But, I am confident that the government of Prime Minister Harper is fully alive to what is happening," he said.
