5 months ago
13
NEW DELHI: Indian-origin Canadian MP
Chandra Arya
on Thursday spoke in the
Canadian Parliament
about the tragic bombing of
Air India
Flight 182, also known as the Kanishka flight, which took the lives of 329 individuals.
Addressing the Parliament, Arya pointed out that the ideology behind this terrorist attack continues to exist among a small number of people in
Canada
.
He urged everyone to attend memorial services on June 23, marking the 39th anniversary of the 1985 Kanishka flight bombing carried out by Khalistani separatists.
Arya's comments come after Canada's parliament marked the first death anniversary of designated Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar by holding a moment of silence in the House of Commons.
During his address, Arya stated, "Mr Speaker, June 23rd is the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. 39 years back, on this day, Air India Flight 182 was blown up mid-day by a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistani extremists. It killed all 329 passengers and crew members and is the largest mass killing in Canadian history."
The MP voiced his concern regarding the recent glorification of the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Khalistani supporters.
"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 energized again and point to dreadful times ahead. Hindu-Canadians are rightfully concerned. I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims of Air India bombing," Arya said in Parliament.
The Montreal-New Delhi Air India 'Kanishka' Flight 182 exploded 45 minutes before it was scheduled to land 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 Bluestar'.
The memorial service organized by India takes place amidst strained relations between New Delhi and Canada over the issue of Khalistani terrorists, following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegation in September last year of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.
