1985 Kanishka bombing showed heavy cost Khalistani terrorism could inflict on humanity: Indian envoy

The horrific terrorist bombing of Air India flight AI 182 in 1985 has revealed to the world the ''heavy cost'' that Khalistani terrorism could inflict on humanity, the Indian envoy to Canada has said as he paid tributes to the 329 victims on the 36th anniversary of the 'Kanishka' tragedy.

Joining the families and friends of the victims in paying homage to all those who fell to the barbaric act of terrorism, most of them Canadians of Indian descent, on Wednesday, High Commissioner of India to Canada Ajay Bisaria said it remains the worst terrorist attack on Canada and no religion, faith or cause can justify such violence.

''The majority of the victims were Canadians, and the bombing was the result of a conspiracy conceived, planned, and executed in Canada. This was principally a Canadian tragedy, a British tragedy, an American tragedy, a global tragedy. It is fitting that Canada commemorates this day as the National Day of Remembrance of Victims of Terrorism. No religion, faith, or cause can justify such violence,'' he said.

''This terrible incident revealed to the world the heavy cost that Khalistani terrorism could inflict on humanity,'' he said in his message.

The Montreal-New Delhi Air India 'Kanishka' Flight 182 exploded 45 minutes before it was to have landed at London's Heathrow Airport on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people on board, most of them Canadians of Indian descent.

The bombing was blamed on Sikh militants in retaliation to 'Operation Blue Star' to flush out militants from the Golden Temple in 1984.

The Indian envoy, who paid tributes to the victims of the bombing at Commissioner’s Park here, said the most enduring memorial to the victims will be rededicating to fighting and eliminating terrorism and militancy with strong determination and joint action.

The high commissioner also thanked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his message on the solemn anniversary, which is also recognized in Canada as the National Day of Remembrance for victims of terrorism.

The Consul General of India in Vancouver, Manish, visited the memorial at Stanley Park in Vancouver; Consul General of India in Toronto, Apoorva Srivastava, visited the memorials at Queen’s Park and Humber Park in Toronto; the Representative of India to ICAO, Shefali Juneja, visited the memorial in Montreal to pay homage to the victims.

Representatives of victims of families were present at all the memorials. The gatherings were kept small to respect social distancing norms in view of COVID-19 pandemic-related health measures.

The terrorist bombing which killed 329 crew and passengers, including 268 Canadian citizens, 27 British citizens, 22 American citizens, and 24 Indian citizens, remains the worst terrorist attack against Canada. It also remains the biggest aviation disaster after the 9/11 terror attack.

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