OK with peaceful stir for Khalistan: Envoy to Canada

Indian high commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, has said India doesn't mind advocacy and protests for Khalistan, as long as these are peaceful. In an interview, Patnaik urged Canada to understand that activities around the separatist movement were taking place on its own soil, not in India. "I have been saying from Day 1, Indians, Canadians, Sikhs can peacefully advocate for what they believe in, even if it is Khalistan or a separate homeland. Politically, we have zero problem," said Patnaik. "In last 40 years, political parties in India have been advocating for that. So, it's nothing new... What we say... don't bring in negativity, filth, terrorist element, gun-running, organised crime and extortion into it.

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Don't have Khalistanis protesting with pictures of the killing of my PM," he said. The remarks came ahead of a Khalistan referendum scheduled for Alberta later this month. After a prolonged period of diplomatic strife over the killing of a Khalistani separatist in British Columbia in 2023, India and Canada have normalised the relationship and are currently discussing a potentially landmark trade deal. Both nations recently held another round of security dialogue, agreeing to deepen coordination in combating organised crime, terrorism and extremism.

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