Delivering a strongly-worded statement to Parliament, Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya highlighted the enduring threat posed by Khalistani extremism, focusing on the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Canadian history. The attack, orchestrated by Khalistani extremists, killed 329 people, including 268 Canadian citizens, and remains a painful chapter in the country’s history.
Arya’s address comes at a time when pro-Khalistani movements have reignited tensions both within Canada and in India, especially following recent violent incidents and the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, last year. Arya’s remarks in Parliament aimed to remind Canadians of the roots of this extremist ideology and its consequences, while condemning ongoing efforts to revive conspiracy theories that downplay the responsibility of those behind the Air India bombing.
My statement in parliament today:
39 years back Air India Flight 182 was blown-up mid-air from a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistan extremists.
It killed 329 people and is the largest mass killing in Canadian history.
Even today, the ideology responsible for this terrorist attack… pic.twitter.com/JdpqzsCUWR— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) September 26, 2024
Revisiting the Tragedy of Air India Flight 182
Air India Flight 182, flying from Montreal to Delhi, was blown up mid-air on June 23, 1985, by a bomb planted by Canadian-based Khalistani extremists. The explosion, which took place off the coast of Ireland, killed all 329 passengers aboard, making it the worst mass murder in Canadian history. Two Canadian public inquiries unequivocally established that Khalistani extremists were responsible for the attack, with subsequent investigations pointing to various flaws in the handling of the case by Canadian authorities at the time.
In his statement, Arya expressed concern that the same extremist ideology behind this act of terror still exists in certain sections of Canadian society. “Thirty-nine years after this tragic bombing, the ideology responsible for the attack is still alive among a few people in Canada,” Arya said, pointing to the growing visibility of Khalistani elements who continue to promote separatist sentiments and violence.
Arya’s speech came in response to a petition recently launched on the Canadian parliamentary portal that calls for a new inquiry into the bombing, promoting conspiracy theories that suggest alternative causes for the attack. Many have criticized the petition as an attempt to shift blame away from the perpetrators and reframe the narrative in favor of pro-Khalistan elements.
One of the most vocal critics of the petition is Mr. Bal Gupta, who lost his wife, Rama, in the bombing. Speaking to The Globe and Mail, Gupta condemned the petition as deeply hurtful. “It’s deeply frustrating. It opens up old wounds all over again. It’s all garbage. It’s an attempt to gain publicity and support for terrorist activities,” he said.
Arya echoed these sentiments in his speech, calling the petition an insult to the victims and their families. He emphasized the importance of preserving the truth about the attack and warned against attempts to use the Canadian legal system to promote false narratives. “Now there is a petition on the parliament portal asking for a new enquiry promoting conspiracy theories propagated by Khalistani extremists,” Arya stated, urging fellow parliamentarians to reject such efforts.
Chandra Arya also highlighted the concerning rise of Khalistani extremism in Canada, which he believes is being shielded by the country’s legal protections under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. “Our land is being polluted by Khalistani extremists abusing our freedoms guaranteed by our Canadian Charter of Rights,” Arya said, referring to how certain groups exploit the democratic freedoms afforded to them in Canada to promote divisive and violent ideologies.
This statement comes against the backdrop of deteriorating India-Canada relations, especially after the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani leader in Canada, in June last year. Nijjar’s death triggered a wave of protests by pro-Khalistan supporters in Canada, including acts of vandalism targeting Hindu temples, such as the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton. These incidents, along with others, have raised concerns about the growing influence of Khalistani elements in the country.
Arya himself has been personally targeted by Khalistani extremists. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent pro-Khalistani activist and the leader of the separatist group Sikhs for Justice, issued a video message condemning Arya for his opposition to the vandalism of Hindu temples and other violent acts attributed to Khalistani supporters. Pannun’s video called for threats against Arya and other members of the Hindu-Canadian community, raising alarms over the safety of minority communities in the face of extremist threats.
The issue of Khalistani extremism has long been a point of contention between India and Canada. India has repeatedly expressed its concerns to the Canadian government over the unchecked activities of Khalistani groups operating on Canadian soil. These groups, which advocate for the creation of an independent Sikh state, are seen by India as a threat to its sovereignty and national security.
Indian officials have urged the Canadian government to take decisive action against these elements, but progress has been slow. “India’s tolerance of pro-Khalistan elements operating freely on its soil is a primary issue between two countries,” Arya noted, highlighting that diplomatic tensions have risen due to Ottawa’s perceived leniency towards extremist activities.
Arya also addressed the increasing visibility of anti-Hindu and anti-India sentiments in Canada, particularly in the wake of controversies such as the documentary Kaali by Madurai-born filmmaker Leena Manimekalai. The documentary poster, which depicted the Hindu goddess Kali smoking a cigarette and holding an LGBTQIA+ flag, sparked outrage within the Hindu community in Canada, with many accusing the filmmaker of disrespecting religious sentiments.
The poster, part of the ‘Under the Tent’ exhibition at the Aga Khan Museum, led to widespread protests and calls for the film to be withdrawn. The Indian High Commission in Canada urged the museum to remove the poster and halt the screening, to which the museum responded with an apology. “Painful to see the Kaali poster by filmmaker Leena Manimekalai. Over the past few years, anti-Hindu and anti-India groups in Canada have joined forces, resulting in Hinduphobic articles in the media and attacks on our Hindu temples,” Arya said in a tweet, commending the museum’s apology.
The Aga Khan Museum later issued a statement, acknowledging the offense caused and pledging to address concerns related to the exhibition: “We regret that certain content in our Under the Tent presentation has caused offense to members of the Hindu and other faith communities. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, while respecting the diversity of beliefs and points of view in our society.”
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