Honoring the 40th Anniversary of the Air India 'Kanishka' Bombing

Commemoration of a Tragic Event

New Delhi, June 23: On Monday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar paid tribute to the 329 individuals who lost their lives in the 1985 Air India 'Kanishka' bombing, marking the 40th anniversary of this tragic event, one of the most devastating acts of aviation terrorism.

Jaishankar emphasized the importance of a global stance of zero tolerance towards terrorism and violent extremism, highlighting the incident as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by such ideologies.

In a post on X, he stated, "As we observe the 40th anniversary of the Air India 182 'Kanishka' bombing, we remember the 329 lives lost in this horrific act of terrorism. It serves as a crucial reminder for the world to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism and violent extremism."

Air India Flight 182 was traveling from Montreal to Mumbai with stops in London and Delhi when it was tragically destroyed mid-flight over the Atlantic Ocean on June 23, 1985, due to a bomb explosion in its cargo area.

The Boeing 747, named after Emperor Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty, had just completed a scheduled stop at Montreal's Mirabel airport, where it took on additional passengers.

After resuming its journey towards London Heathrow, the flight disappeared from radar shortly after contacting Shannon Air Traffic Control in Ireland.

The explosion, which occurred off the coast of Ireland, resulted in the deaths of all 329 individuals aboard, including 22 crew members. Investigations indicated that the bomb had been placed in luggage originating from Vancouver, suggesting a transnational terrorist conspiracy.

The attack was primarily linked to the Khalistani extremist group Babbar Khalsa. Inderjit Singh Reyat, a British-Canadian national, admitted guilt in 2003 for his involvement in assembling the bomb.

Talwinder Singh Parmar, a founding member of Babbar Khalsa, was believed to be the mastermind behind this heinous act.

In observance of this solemn anniversary, a prominent Indian delegation led by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri traveled to Ireland on Sunday to attend a memorial service at the Ahakista Memorial in Cork.

The delegation includes BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh and elected officials from five Indian states: Arvinder Singh Lovely (Delhi MLA), Baldev Singh Aulakh (Minister from Uttar Pradesh), Gurveer Singh Brar (MLA from Rajasthan), Trilok Singh Cheema (MLA from Uttarakhand), and Narinder Singh Raina (MLA from Jammu & Kashmir).

The memorial event is taking place on Monday at the memorial site, attended by Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin, Canadian Minister Gary Anandasangaree, and various international dignitaries.