Canadian MP from Nepean constituency Chandra Arya said demands for a fresh enquiry into the 1985 bombing of Air India flight 182 saying that it promoted conspiracy theories by Khalistani extremists.
The Indian-origin member of the Canadian House of Commons told the House that two Canadian public inquiries had already found Khalistani extremists responsible for the bombing of Air India ‘Kanishka’ flight. The terror attack led to the deaths of 329 people.
“39 years back, Air India Flight 182 was blown-up mid-air by a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistan extremists. Even today, the ideology responsible for this terrorist attack is still alive among a few people in Canada,” Arya said.
“Two Canadian public inquiries found Khalistani extremists responsible for the bombing of Air India flight,” he further added.
The Air India Flight 182 was en route from Montreal to Mumbai (then-Bombay) when a bomb planted by Khalistani separatists blew up the plane mid-air. The flight disintegrated at an altitude of 31,000 feet and its remnants fell into the sea off the coast of Ireland.
All 329 people on board, including 268 Canadian citizens, 27 British citizens, and 24 Indian citizens died in the attack.
“Now, there is a petition on the parliament portal asking for a new enquiry promoting conspiracy theories promoted by Khalistan extremists,” Arya said, referring to the fresh plea.
“It’s deeply frustrating. It opens up old wounds all over again. It’s all garbage. It’s an attempt to gain publicity and support for terrorist activities,” he further added, this time citing an account of Bal Gupta, a Canadian citizen whose wife Rama was killed in the attack.
Khalistani elements this year disrupted a tribute programme held to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the bombing.
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