Keep an eye on Khalistani outfits, PM tells Canada

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh raised the issue of Sikh fundamentalist outfits with his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit at the Convention Centre in Washington on Monday evening.

During the meeting, Dr Singh also noted that this year marked the 25th anniversary of the bombing of Air-India flight Kanishka. As many as 329 people were killed when terrorists, demanding a separate Khalistan, blew up Air India Flight 182 in mid-air on June 23, 1985.

He urged Canada to monitor the activities of Khalistani separatists in that country.

Dr Singh conveyed his concern over the surge in activities of Khalistani separatists in Canada who were trying to revive militancy in Punjab.

The two leaders also reviewed bilateral relations and discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Both prime ministers agreed to intensify economic and trade relations.

Briefing the media about the meeting, external affairs ministry official spokesman Vishnu Prakash said Dr Singh conveyed India's continuing concerns over the activities of terrorist organisations in that country.

"He (Manmohan Singh) hoped that the Canadian government would curb and monitor the activities of these organisations," Prakash said.