- By Shivangi Sharma
- Mon, 24 Jun 2024 12:23 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Indian embassies in Ottawa, the Canadian capital, and Toronto commemorated the 39th anniversary of the 1985 Kanishka bombing. The tragic incident claimed the lives of 329 individuals, including 86 children, aboard an Air India flight, marking it as one of the most atrocious terrorist-related air disasters in civil aviation history. High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma paid homage to the victims of the Air India Flight 182 Kanishka tragedy in Ottawa today, marking the 39th anniversary of the terrorist attack that claimed 329 innocent lives, including 86 children.
Addressing the gathering, High Commissioner Verma said, “No government in the world should overlook the threat of terrorism emanating from its territories for political gains. Human lives are much more important than the transitory political interests. All terrorist activities should be met with exemplary legal and social actions before they start harming the larger humanity. Governments, security agencies, and international organisations must work in concert to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their financing, and counter their twisted ideologies.”
Family members and friends of the victims, Canadian government officials, including the Assistant RCMP Commissioner, the Ambassador of Ireland, and over 150 members of the Indo-Canadian community, attended the solemn event.
“India shares the grief of the victims' loved ones and remains a leading force in combating terrorism, collaborating with nations worldwide to address this global threat,” said the High Commission of India in Ottawa in a post on the social media platform, X.
India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated: "Nor must we countenance that political convenience determines responses to terrorism, extremism and violence. Similarly, respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs cannot be exercised in cherry picking. [UNGA, September 2023]. Spirit of this statement is the best tribute to the victims of Air India Flight 182 Kanishka,” said the Indian High Commission in a press release marking the 39th anniversary of the 1985 Kanishka bombing. The Indian High Commission's statement emphasised that terrorism disregards "borders, nationality or race”.
“Despite thirty-nine years passing since this cowardly act, terrorism has escalated into a significant threat to international peace and security. It transcends borders, nationalities, and races, posing a challenge that the global community must address collectively,” the press release stated.
“Any act of glorifying terrorism, including the bombing of AI-182 in 1985, is deplorable and should be condemned by all peace-loving countries and people. It is unfortunate that such actions are allowed to be routine on many occasions in Canada,” it said.
Earlier last week, Indian-origin Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya also raised concerns in the Parliament regarding the 1985 air bombing, “The ideology responsible for this terrorist attack is still alive among few people in Canada. The recent celebration of the assassination of Hindu Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Khalistan supporters, glorifying violence and hate, shows that the dark forces have been energised again and point to dreadful times ahead. Hindu Canadians are rightfully concerned. I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims of the Air India bombing,” said Arya in the Canadian Parliament.
On June 23, 1985, Air India Flight 182 Kanishka, operating on the Montreal-London-Delhi route, was exploded by a bomb mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean near Ireland, in a terrorist attack carried out by Canada-based Khalistani extremists. The explosion killed 329 innocent passengers, including Canadian and other foreign nationals, Indian citizens, and children.
