India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday paid a heartfelt tribute to the 329 victims of the 1985 terrorist attack on the sombre occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Kanishka bombing. Jaishankar highlighted the ongoing need for the world to fight violent extremism with zero tolerance, calling the incident "one of the worst acts of terrorism."
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Jaishankar wrote, "On the 40th anniversary of Air India 182 'Kanishka' bombing, we honour the memory of the 329 lives lost in one of the worst acts of terrorism. A stark reminder of why the world must show zero tolerance towards terrorism and violent extremism."
On June 23, 1985, members of the Canadian terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa planted a bomb on Air India Flight 182, which was travelling from Montreal to Delhi, destroying the aircraft in midair. This incident is known as the Kanishka bombing. All 329 people on board were killed when the plane exploded off the coast of Cork, Ireland. The anniversary was commemorated in Ireland with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Ahakista Memorial in Cork attended by dignitaries from India, Ireland, and Canada. Canadian Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, and Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri were among those who laid wreaths.
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An Indian delegation attended the 40th anniversary memorial event in Ireland. Led by Hardeep Singh Puri, the delegation comprised several notable figures: Arvinder Singh Lovely, BJP MLA in the Delhi Assembly; Baldev Singh Aulakh, Minister of State in the Uttar Pradesh government; Gurveer Singh Brar, BJP MLA from Sadulshahar in the Rajasthan Assembly; Narinder Singh Raina, BJP MLA from RS Pura in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly; Trilok Singh Cheema, BJP MLA from Kashipur in the Uttarakhand Assembly; BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh; and India’s Ambassador to Ireland, Akhilesh Mishra.
The commemoration witnessed the presence of the Mayor of the County of Cork, Councillor Joe Carroll, who also laid a wreath at the Ahakista Memorial. The event drew a large gathering of people who came together to pay their respects. Schoolchildren also participated by offering a musical tribute to the victims, creating a poignant and respectful atmosphere.
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Speaking at the event, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin expressed deep condolences and emphasised the enduring pain of the tragedy. "Very honoured to be here in Ahakista this morning on this 40th anniversary of that terrible day in 1985 that saw the Air India flight cruelly and horrifically brought down off our coastline. It’s always a privilege and honour to attend this sober commemoration and to witness the dignity, dedication and care with which you remember your loved ones who died so horrifically 40 years ago today," Martin said.
He further noted that even after four decades, the enormity of the tragedy remains undiminished, "329 innocent people lost their lives over the skies of Ireland that morning, and the passing of time does not dim the scale of loss and this atrocity. We feel the enormity of your loss when we see the faces and read the stories on the memorial here, before us."
"Especially moving are these simple descriptions: student, child — so many young lives taken far too soon. While the scale of this horrific act is of global significance, we should never forget that it is an intensely personal tragedy," he said. "The loss and grief felt by you, the families and loved ones of the people who died that June morning in 1985 is deeply personal. One only needs to come here on any year and listen to you speak, witness you placing flowers into the sea or laying wreaths to understand how powerful that grief endures."
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