S Jaishankar Recalls Kanishka Bombing After Canadian Parliament Pays Tribute To Hardeep Singh Nijjar

India has justified the 1985 Air India flight 182 bombing to highlight its concerns about the threat posed by Khalistani in Canada. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar says that the attack would be served as a reminder that terrorism should never be tolerated.

S Jaishankar On 39th anniversary of Kanishka flight bombing

S. Jaishankar’s post on X and a memorial event organized by the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, held shortly after the Canadian Parliament observed a minute’s silence for Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, declared terrorist by Indian authorities.

The bombing of Air India flight 182, which killed all 329 people on board, including over 270 Canadians of Indian origin, was the deadliest aviation-related terrorist attack until 9/11 and remains the worst terror attack in Canada’s history. On the 39th anniversary of the bombing, Jaishankar expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and reiterated the need to condemn terrorism.

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Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma

Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma, at the memorial event in Ottawa stated that “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 activities involving terror “should be met with exemplary legal and social actions” and the dismantling of terror networks, the disruption of their financing, and the countering of their “twisted ideologies” must be conducted by governments, security agencies, and international organizations working in concert, it was further stated by Verma.

A statement was issued by the Indian High Commission which says that any act glorifying terrorism should be banned. “It is unfortunate that such actions are allowed to be routine on many occasions in Canada,” it was mentioned in a statement by the mission. The memorial was attended by families of the victims, Canadian officials, the Irish envoy, and members of the Indo-Canadian community.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement on the occassion of National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism where he says “Thirty-nine years ago today, 329 innocent people, including 280 Canadians, tragically lost their lives when a bomb, planted on Air India Flight 182 in Canada, exploded mid-flight. This remains the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history. It reminds us of the senseless violence that terrorism perpetuates and of our shared responsibility to unequivocally condemn terrorism.”

Canadian law enforcement department further continues to investigate the bombing, with the RCMP describing it as a long and complex domestic terrorism investigation. An official report in 2005 by Bob Rae linked the bombing to radical Sikh elements in Vancouver pursuing an independent Khalistan in India’s Punjab state.