Forty years after Kanishka bombing, India stands firm in war on terror
Standing by the windswept shores of Ahakista in Ireland, where the debris of Air India Flight 182 fell on June 23, 1985, I felt the weight of history and humanity converge. The Kanishka bombing, which stole 329 innocent lives, is not just a chapter in aviation history; it is a solemn reminder of how terrorism devastates families, communities, and nations alike.
This year we marked the 40th anniversary of this tragedy in Ahakista. I was part of an official Indian delegation led by Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, supported seamlessly by the Ministry of External Affairs. This was to not merely observe a date, but to reaffirm our collective promise: India will always honour its people, no matter how far they are or how many years have passed, and will continue to seek justice until it is delivered.
As I stood before the memorial, watching a local Irish resident place a white rose on the plaque, I was reminded that the power of shared grief transcends borders, turning remembrance into a bridge of empathy between nations. It was deeply moving to see how Ireland, despite not having a single citizen on that flight, built and continues to maintain this memorial. It is a reminder of the collective responsibility we share in standing against terrorism.
During the commemoration, Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin described the Kanishka bombing as a 'cruel and horrific' act of terror, reminding us that 'the passage of time does not dim the scale of this loss'. His words reflected how this tragedy has fostered a deepened bond between India, Ireland, and Canada in the collective fight against terrorism. Echoing this sentiment, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the Air India bombing as 'the deadliest terrorist attack in our country's history', reaffirming Canada's commitment to stand firmly against violent extremism.
The Kanishka bombing was not an accident but a deliberate act of terrorism, carried out by extremist elements. It is a significant moment that Canada's intelligence agency, CSIS, now publicly recognises Canada-based Khalistani extremism as a real and growing national security threat and not merely a foreign concern. This acknowledgment aligns with India's longstanding position that terrorism must be confronted with unwavering resolve, wherever it arises. As Canada's UN envoy Bob Rae stated at the memorial, 'Canadians need to know that the bomb was placed in Canada, and this act of terror must be etched deeply into Canadian history.' His words underscore the shared responsibility of nations to transform remembrance into a call for accountability and collective action.
As Minister Puri aptly stated during the commemoration, the Kanishka bombing was 'a crime against humanity'. This convergence of voices and acknowledgments strengthen India's call for global cooperation to dismantle terror networks and eliminate the support systems that sustain extremist violence. It transformed our presence in Ahakista from a solemn tribute to a clear stand for global justice and a shared commitment to preventing such tragedies in the future.
As India moves forward under the New India vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we remain steadfast in our commitment to treating terrorism as an act of war on humanity and leading with clarity and courage in dismantling its networks wherever they exist. The recent terror attack in Pahalgam serves as a stark reminder of the urgency of unified global action.
The delegation to Ireland, with its strong Sikh representation, was a testament to the immense contributions of the Sikh community to India's strength, unity, and culture of 'sewa'. Sikhism has always stood for courage, equality, and service to humanity — from langars feeding millions globally, to serving in our armed forces, where Sikhs form over 12 per cent of the personnel despite being less than 2 per cent of the population, and leading humanitarian efforts worldwide. Those promoting separatism in the name of Sikhism do not represent the spirit of a community that has always chosen nation-building over division.
As we move forward, we carry within us the vision of a New India — an India that is resilient, compassionate, and committed to peace, echoing the words of PM Modi that 'India will not tolerate terrorism, and will not spare those who support terror.' The remembrance of Kanishka is a reminder of the cost of silence and inaction, urging us to transform memory into resolve and to build a world where justice and humanity prevail, ensuring such tragedies are never repeated.
The writer is a BJP MLA from Sadulshahar, Rajasthan
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