India, Sept. 9 -- India has officially communicated its concern to the Canadian government over its High Commissioner-designate Dinesh Patnaik being targeted by pro-Khalistan elements even before he has arrived in the country assume charge.

A float of the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) at the annual Khalsa Day parade on Sunday in the Greater Toronto Area township of Malton featured a poster of Patnaik. His appointment was only announced on August 28 by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Concerns over the float have been taken up "strongly" by India's High Commission in Ottawa with Global Affairs Canada, the country's foreign ministry, a senior official said.

The float targeting Patnaik had a poster with his photograph and cl...