New Delhi: The killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil caused a lot of heartburn between India and Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Nijjar a Canadian national in Parliament soon after his death. Bilateral relations between the two nations hit an all-time low after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian agencies were involved in the shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Nijjar in Vancouver on June 18, 2023.
On Tuesday, the Canadian Parliament held a moment of silence in the House of Commons to mark the first death anniversary of Nijjar, who figured in India’s list of 40 ‘designated terrorists’.
India was hardly amused.
In a clear message to Canada, Indian Consulate General in Vancouver announced a memorial service to honour the 329 people who were killed in the 1985 Khalistani bombing of an Air India Kanishka aircraft.
The memorial service will on Sunday evening at Stanley Park’s Ceperley Playground area.
“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. A Memorial Service is scheduled at 1830 hrs on June 23, 2024 at the Air India Memorial at Stanley Park’s Ceperley Playground area. @cgivancouver encourages members of the Indian Diaspora to join the event in a show of solidarity against terrorism,” the Indian Consulate General posted on its X handle.
Nijjar was wanted in several cases in India, including the 2017 Ludhiana blast which killed 6 people and left 42 injured.
India conveyed its concern about Nijjar to Canada many times. Punjab Police in 2022 had sought Nijjar’s extradition as he was wanted in cases of spreading terrorism in the state.
Canada paid no heed, and Nijjar was shot dead last June.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating his murder. Four Indian nationals have been arrested.
India has constantly asked for evidence of Canada’s allegation vis-a-vis Nijjar’s killing, but not been satisfied.
