Rajya Sabha Observes Minute’s Silence for Victims of 1985 Air India Bombing

On Monday, the Rajya Sabha observed a minute’s silence in memory of the 329 victims of the 1985 bombing of Air India flight 182 by Khalistani terrorists, reiterating India’s concerns about terrorism. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the chairperson of the upper house of Parliament, referred to the bombing as one of the darkest days in the fight against terrorism.

Remembering the Tragedy

“Two Air India aircraft flying out of Canada were targeted by terrorists [and] 329 innocent people lost their lives when Air India [flight] 182 Kanishka was blown up off Ireland on June 23, 1985,” Dhankhar said. He also mentioned the loss of two ground crew members in Japan while handling baggage from another Air India flight from Canada, highlighting how another major catastrophe was narrowly averted.

Dhankhar lamented the lack of full justice for the victims and their families, stressing the need for zero tolerance towards terrorism and violent extremism. “Such acts can never be condoned or justified under any pretext,” he asserted.

Calls for Justice and Remembrance

External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal echoed Dhankhar’s sentiments, emphasizing on X (formerly Twitter) that justice was never fully served. He urged for a vow of zero tolerance towards terrorism and violent extremism.

The 1985 bombing of Air India flight 182 remains the worst aviation-related terrorist attack in history before the 9/11 attacks in the US, and it is the deadliest terror attack in Canadian history. The bombing resulted in the deaths of all 329 people on board, including over 270 Canadian citizens, mostly of Indian origin, and 24 Indians.

Commemorative Activities

Last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar cited the attack in a post on X, and the Indian high commission in Ottawa organized a ceremony to honor the victims. These activities occur amid strained India-Canada relations, with New Delhi expressing concerns over the Canadian government’s perceived inaction against pro-Khalistani elements.

Honoring World Leaders and Tragic Incidents

The Rajya Sabha also paid homage to recently deceased world leaders, including Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Tanzania’s former president Ali Hassan Mwinyi, and Malawi’s vice president Saulos Klaus Chilima. Dhankhar acknowledged their contributions to strengthening bilateral relations and expressed condolences for their untimely deaths in a helicopter crash on May 19. India observed a day of national mourning on May 21, and Dhankhar represented India at an official ceremony in Iran.

Additionally, the Rajya Sabha expressed deep sympathy for the victims of a devastating fire in a housing complex for foreign workers in Kuwait on June 12, which killed 46 Indian nationals. Dhankhar described the incident as “painful and unfortunate” and praised Indian authorities for their swift action in safely evacuating the injured.

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