What is terrorism and how India is facing the brunt of Khalistani terrorists? Canada has also started understanding this now. The Canadian police has now issued a statement regarding the bomb blast in the junior plane of Air India and is trying to heal the wounds of the victims of this terrorist incident.
On 23 June 1995, Air India’s Kanishka aircraft was coming from Montreal, Canada to New Delhi via London, when a massive explosion took place in the plane before landing in London. 329 people died in this plane explosion. Most of the dead were Canadian citizens of Indian origin.
The blame for this bomb blast was put on Sikh terrorists. This blast was allegedly carried out as a retaliation for ‘Operation Bluestar’ carried out in 1984 to flush out terrorists from the Golden Temple.
The investigation is still going on even after 39 years
Today marks 39 years since the blast. On its 39th anniversary, Canadian police issued a statement saying that the investigation into the case is ongoing. David Teboul, commander of the Pacific region in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, described the bomb blast as the ‘biggest terrorist loss affecting and involving Canadians’ in the country’s history and offered deep sympathy and support to the families of the victims.
Teboul said, “The Air India investigation is one of the longest and certainly one of the most complex domestic terrorism investigations conducted in the history of the RCMP.” He said, “Our investigative efforts remain active and ongoing.”
The Kanishka blast affected generations
He stressed that the impact of the bombings “has not diminished with time” and the trauma it caused has affected generations. “We must never forget the innocent lives lost in this tragedy and other acts of terrorism,” he said.
The Indian Consulate General in Vancouver has also organized a memorial event to commemorate the Kanishka bombings, one of the biggest terrorist attacks in aviation history. This tribute event organized by India is taking place amid tensions in India’s relations with Canada over the issue of Khalistani terrorists.
India-Canada feud over terrorism
In September last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of being involved in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has rejected Trudeau’s allegations as ‘absurd and motivated’. India says that the main issue between the two countries is that Canada is providing space without any hindrance to pro-Khalistan elements operating from its soil.
India has repeatedly expressed its “deep concerns” to Canada and New Delhi hopes that Ottawa will take strong action against such elements.
Tags: Canada, Khalistani terrorist
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 23, 2024, 08:02 IST