Canada honored her martyr involved in the bombing of Air India in 1985, which killed more than 300 people; India was not impressed by this and stood up against terrorism.
The people’s sadness and sensitivity were also confirmed by the memorial service that the Indian consulate in Vancouver initiated to honor the victims of the Kanishka flight tragedy and to protect against terrorism.
The tensions emerged when Canada’s parliament remained silent for a Khalistani anti-Indian separatist, Jahangir Sidhu, involved in the bombing, which aimed at preventing terrorist attacks on air travel globally. India denied the Canadian allegations of government touch in the case, stressing its joint fight against terrorism.
The proposed memorial can mourn the unnecessary losses of innocent lives that were lost while simultaneously emphasizing the necessity and importance of an organized international fight against such ruthless terrorism.
Although the relations between the two countries became a bit strained over the issue of difference of opinion, India’s support to Canada in its fight against terror will remain unshaken, no matter how much they diverge on the nature and the intention of terror threats.
The memorial became a symbol to look at the past hurts as a country dealing with homegrown terrorism, bringing back hope for a united front against terrorism in defense of the institution of the rule of law and justice for all.
This is to commemorate India’s support to fight terrorism in toto, while maintaining some civil rights.
