India's Strong Message After Canadian Parliament Honours Khalistani Terrorist (Photo @TopolovecM)
After Canada honoured Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar by observing silence in the Parliament, Indian Consulate General in Vancouver today announced its decision to hold a memorial service to pay tribute to the 329 people who died during the 1985 bombing of Air India Kanishka flight by Khalistan terrorists. The consulate urged the Indian diaspora to join the event in solidarity against terrorism.
In a series of posts on X, the Indian consulate said that the country stands at the forefront of countering the menace of terrorism and works closely with all nations to tackle this global threat. “23 June 2024 marks the 39th Anniversary of the cowardly terrorist bombing of Air India flight 182 (Kanishka), in which 329 innocent victims, including 86 children, lost their lives in one of the most heinous terror-related air disasters in the history of civil aviation,” the Consulate said in the post.
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In a follow-up post, the consulate added that “a Memorial Service is scheduled at 1830 hrs on June 23, 2024, at the Air India Memorial at Stanley Park’s Ceperley Playground area. @cgivancouver encourages members of the Indian Diaspora to join the event in a show of solidarity against terrorism. @HCI_Ottawa,” the consulate wrote.
India stands at the forefront of countering the menace of terrorism and works closely with all nations to tackle this global threat. (1/3)
— India in Vancouver (@cgivancouver) June 18, 2024
The consulate’s X posts were a clear message responding to the Canadian parliament’s action honouring the Khalistani terrorist. Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in British Columbia last year, triggering bilateral tensions between India and Canada. The Canadian government had alleged that the Indian government agents could be involved in the killing. However, Indian government rejected the allegations terming it as absurd and motivated.
News agency IANS today shared a video showing members of the Canadian parliament observing silence in the House of Commons in the memory of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Canada’s Parliament marked the one-year anniversary of the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar by holding a moment of silence in the House of Commons on Tuesday
(Video Source – Canadian Parliament Official Website) pic.twitter.com/SGkovpiWXc
— IANS (@ians_india) June 19, 2024
Four Indian nationals have been arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
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On 23 June 1985, an Air India flight travelling from Canada to India via London, exploded off the Irish coast, killing all 329 people on board. The victims included 268 Canadian citizens, mostly of Indian origin, and 24 Indians. The explosion was caused by a bomb planted by Canadian Sikh terrorists, marking a deadly terror attack.
However, during the recent G7 Summit, Prime Minister Modi met the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He also posted a picture of him shaking hands with the Canadian Prime Minister. Trudeau had called the meeting as an opportunity to engage directly with a huge range of different leaders with whom there are various issues.”
Notably, the meeting was the first since the diplomatic ties between the two countries were worsened following the killing of the Khalistani leader. India had also accused Canada of giving space to anti-Indian elements on Canadian soil.
