Harper supports a ‘ united India’

NEW DELHI Prime Minister Stephen Harper assured his Indian hosts Tuesday that Canada favours a “united India” — an apparent strike at those Canadian Sikhs who advocate the creation of a separate state, Khalistan, in the nation’s Punjab region.

On a day when the focus was on boosting economic and trade ties between the two countries, the politically sensitive issue of Sikh extremism was raised twice by Indian officials to Harper.

Harper met many of the Indian government’s leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

At the end of their meetings, the two held a signing ceremony for two agreements: on nuclear co-operation to allow Canadian exports of uranium, and reforms of social security benefits for people who work in both countries.

As Harper sat by his side, Singh said the two countries share priorities that go beyond expanding trade.

“India and Canada are nations built on shared values that celebrate democracy, inclusiveness and diversity,” said Singh. “We have similar concerns in combating terrorism, extremism and radicalism. The prime minister and I agreed to deepen our counterterrorism co-operation.”

The two leaders released a joint statement that included a pledge to “condemn violent extremism in all its forms” and fight global terrorism.

Earlier in the day, Harper heard a similar message after a meeting with Preneet Kaur, the country’s minister of state for external affairs.

She expressed her nation’s concern about the “revival of anti-India rhetoric in Canada” — an apparent reference to the rise in radical extremism and calls from some Sikhs for the establishment of Khalistan in the Punjab region.