Days after the Canadian Parliament paid tribute to pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday recalled the 1985 Kanishka bombing in a social media post, saying that it was a reminder why terrorism should not be tolerated. “Today marks the 39th anniversary of one of the worst acts of terrorism in history,” Jaishankar said. “Pay my homage to the memory of the 329 victims of AI 182 ‘Kanishka’ who were killed this day in 1985. My thoughts are with their families. The anniversary is a reminder why terrorism should never be tolerated.” The Indian consulate-general in Vancouver has announced plans to hold a memorial event for the victims of the 1985 Air India Kanishka flight bombing. “India stands at the forefront of countering the menace of terrorism and works closely with all nations to tackle this global threat. 23 June 2024 marks the 39th Anniversary of the cowardly terrorist bombing of Air India flight 182 (Kanishka), in which 329 innocent victims, including 86 children, lost their lives in one of the most heinous terror-related air disasters in the history of civil aviation,” the consulate-general posted on X. The memorial service is scheduled to take place on June 23 evening (local time), at the Air India Memorial located in Stanley Park’s Ceperley Playground area in Vancouver. “The Consulate General of India in Vancouver encourages members of the Indian Diaspora to attend, demonstrating solidarity against terrorism,” the post read. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri also paid homage to the victims through a post on Sunday. “This dastardly bombing on 23 June 1985 remains one of the most reprehensible acts of terror committed against India. Actions anchored in such extremism have no place in a sane and civilised world,” he said. “Unfortunately, the systems and mindsets that condoned Kanishka bombing and subsequent acts of terrorism, continue to find forces and sympathisers violating international norms and commitments to combat violent extremism and terrorism,” he added. On June 23, 1985, an Air India Flight from Montreal to London exploded 31,000 ft above the Atlantic Ocean after a bomb planted by Khalistani terrorists based out of Canada went off. Among the 329 people killed were 268 Canadian citizens, 27 British citizens, and 24 Indian citizens. Just last week, the Canadian Parliament observed a minute of silence in honour of Nijjar, who was assassinated in Surrey, British Columbia, a year ago. The circumstances surrounding Nijjar’s killing have strained bilateral relations, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging India’s involvement in it. The investigation into Nijjar’s murder is ongoing, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arresting four Indians in the case. India continues to dismiss allegations of its involvement in the killing as “baseless and unfounded”. Meanwhile, the RCMP also issued a statement ahead of the anniversary of the bombing, which caused the “greatest terror-related loss of life involving and affecting Canadians” in the country’s history. “The Air India investigation is the longest and certainly one of the most complex domestic terrorism investigations that the RCMP has undertaken in our history,” David Teboul, Assistant Commissioner, RCMP, said in a statement on Friday. “Our investigative efforts remain active and ongoing.” Asserting that the impact of the bombing had “not diminished with time”, Teboul said the trauma it caused had impacted generations. “We must never forget those innocent lives lost to this tragedy and other acts of terrorism,” he added.
