A furious diplomatic row between India and Canada has pushed an otherwise fringe separatist campaign for an independent Sikh homeland in Punjab into the international spotlight.

There are roughly 770,000 Sikhs in Canada, about 2 per cent of the population - the largest Sikh community outside India Ottawa's accusations this week detailing a deadly Indian campaign against its Canada-based critics may have further derailed bilateral relations - but to Sikh activists,

Canada accuses Indian diplomats of criminal activities linked to the Khalistani investigation, prompting India to recall its diplomats. The diplomatic spat intensifies as Canada's Foreign Minister warns remaining Indian diplomats to adhere to legal norms,