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Indian-Origin MP commemorates anniversary of Air India bombing in Canadian parliament
The MP emphasized the extremist ideology responsible for the 1985 attack and said that it continues to exist among a small number of people in Canada.
Chandra Arya / Image- X (@AryaCanada)
Indian-origin Canadian Member of Parliament, Chandra Arya, paid tribute to the victims of the terror attack on Air India Flight 182 in the Canadian parliament ahead of its 39th anniversary of June 23.
The bombing of Air India Flight 182, also known as the Kanishka flight, by Khalistani extremists on June.23, 1985 claimed the lives of 329 individuals, most of whom were Canadians of Indian descent.
In a poignant speech in the Canadian Parliament, the MP emphasized the extremist ideology responsible for the 1985 attack and said that it continues to exist among a small number of people in Canada.
"June.23 is the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. Thirty-nine years back, on this day, Air India Flight 182 was blown up mid-air from a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistani extremists," Arya stated.
June 23, 2024 marks the 39th anniversary of the 1985 Air India bombing by Canadian based Khalistani terrorists. On Tuesday I made a statement in our parliament (text below).
— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) June 20, 2024
Wherever possible, please attend the memorial services on June 23.
Ottawa: Air India Flight 182 Monument… pic.twitter.com/xxGdSQwqme
"It killed all 329 passengers and crew members and is the largest mass killing in Canadian history. Unfortunately, many Canadians are not aware that even today, the ideology responsible for this terrorist attack is still alive among few people in Canada,” he said on the floor of the house.
Arya's remarks come after the recent commemoration in Canada's Parliament of the first death anniversary of designated Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which included a moment of silence in the House of Commons.
Arya expressed concern over the resurgence of violent ideologies, pointing to recent celebrations by Khalistan supporters glorifying the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
"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," Arya said. "I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims of the Air India bombing."
The commemoration of the 39th anniversary of the Kanishka bombing will take place at various memorial sites across Canada on June.23. Memorial services will be held at the Air India Flight 182 Monument in Ottawa's Commissioner’s Park, Queen’s Park in Toronto, Monk Island in Montreal, and Stanley Park in Vancouver.
The anniversary comes amid strained diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Ottawa over the issue of Khalistani terrorists. Tensions escalated following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year regarding the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing.
Arya urged Canadians to participate in the memorial services to honor the victims and raise awareness about the persisting threat of extremist ideologies. "Wherever possible, please attend the memorial services on June.23," Arya appealed.
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