In a shocking incident, Canada’s Parliament marked the one-year anniversary of the Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death by holding a moment of silence in the House of Commons on June 18, 2024.
Meanwhile, in response to Canada, the Indian Consulate General in Vancouver, in a strong message to Canada, announced a memorial service to pay tribute to the bombing of Air India Kanishka flight in which at least 329 passengers were killed.
The memorial service is scheduled to be held at Stanley Park’s Ceperley Playground area at 6:30 pm on June 23.
Taking to X, the Indian Consulate General said, “India stands at the forefront of countering the menace of terrorism and works closely with all nations to tackle this global threat. 23 June 2024 marks the 39th anniversary of the cowardly terrorist bombing of Air India flight 182 (Kanishka), in which 329 innocent victims, including 86 children, lost their lives in one of the most heinous terror-related air disasters in the history of civil aviation.”
Notably, in 1985, Canadian Sikh extremists detonated a bomb aboard an Air India Flight en route from Montreal to London. This tragic incident claimed the lives of 329 passengers, including 268 Canadians, 27 Britons, and 24 Indians, marking it as one of the deadliest acts of aviation terrorism in history. Since then, India has been raising the issue of soaring extremism in Canada amid the fact high-profile criminals and drug mafias from Punjab use Canadian soil safe heaven. However, Ottawa denied claims despite rising gang wars in Canada.
It is to be noted that Nijjar, the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was killed in Surrey, outside British Columbia’s Gurudwara, on June 18 last year. His name was on the list released by the Indian government with 40 other ‘designated terrorists’.
Four Indian nationals, named Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh, are accused of killing Nijjar.
Notably, few days back, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy. Speaking about the meeting, Trudeau said that he sees an “opportunity” to engage with the new government, including economic ties, and national security.
Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar?
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was born in Jalandhar district, Punjab (India) and was based out in Surrey, Canada working as a plumber. As per the media reports, he forcibly occupied Guru Nanak Sikh temple in Surrey and became its president.
Nijjar was also one of the significant figures in Gurpatwant Singh Pannun-led Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Pannun appointed him as a representative of SFJ in Canada and tasked him to conduct ‘Referendum-2020 campaign’ in the Metro Vancouver region, where anti-India slogans were raised.
Last year in July, Nijjar was charge-sheeted by the NIA in India for alleged involvement in the murder of the priest Kamaldeep Sharma at a village in Jalandhar, Punjab. NIA had also announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for his capture.
Nijjar was also involved in the killing of Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was acquitted in the 1985 Air India terrorist bombing case. A bomb exploded on Air India Flight 182 “Kanishka” from Canada off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985, killing 329 passengers and crew. This included over 280 Canadian citizens, including 29 entire families and 86 children under the age of 12.
According to the reports, Nijjar and another Canada-born Khalistani separatist, Moninder Boyle, hatched the conspiracy to kill Malik. They orchestrated a campaign by spreading rumours that Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) printed by Malik had mistakes.
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