Ottawa:
A distinguished Canadian MP of Indian origin has criticised a petition in search of a recent inquiry into the bombing of Air India Flight 182 of 1985 to find out the involvement of any “overseas intelligence”, alleging that it promotes “conspiracy theories” of Khalistani extremists.
The Montreal-New Delhi Air India ‘Kanishka’ Flight 182 exploded 45 minutes earlier than it was presupposed to land at London’s Heathrow Airport on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 folks on board, most of them Canadians of Indian descent.
The bombing was blamed on Sikh extremists in retaliation to ‘Operation Bluestar’ to flush out militants from the Golden Temple in 1984.
Addressing the Parliament on Thursday, Chandra Arya, a Member of Parliament from Nepean within the House of Commons, famous that two Canadian public inquiries discovered Khalistani extremists accountable for the bombing of Air India flight.
Calling the bombing the “largest mass killing” in Canadian historical past, Mr Arya mentioned, “Even as we speak, the ideology accountable for this terrorist assault continues to be alive amongst (a) few folks in Canada.”
“Two Canadian public inquiries discovered Khalistan extremists accountable for the bombing of the Air India flight. Now there’s a petition on (the) parliament portal asking for a brand new enquiry selling conspiracy theories promoted by Khalistan extremists,” he mentioned.
Quoting Bal Gupta, whose spouse was killed on this assault, Mr Arya mentioned,” It’s deeply irritating. It opens up previous wounds yet again. It’s all rubbish. It’s an try to achieve publicity and help for terrorist actions.”
The petition requires the Canadian authorities to order a recent inquiry into the Kanishka bombing to find out whether or not any “overseas intelligence was concerned” in it.
Last yr, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a “potential” involvement of Indian brokers in Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing.
New Delhi rejected Mr Trudeau’s prices as “absurd”.
India has been sustaining that the principle subject between the 2 nations is that of Canada giving area to pro-Khalistan parts working from Canadian soil with impunity.
Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot lifeless outdoors a gurdwara in British Columbia on June 18 final yr. The homicide is being probed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
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