In Mourning Terrorist Hardeep Nijjar's Death, Canada's Double Standards Exposed

New Delhi: Two separate incidents in Canada have brought forward the nation's double standards when it comes to fighting terrorism. The Federal Court of Appeal in Canada recently declined to uplift the "no-fly" restrictions imposed on Bhagat Singh Parvkar and Parvkar Singh Dulai citing that authorities can put restrictions if there were “reasonable grounds to suspect they will threaten transportation security or travel by air to commit a terrorism offence.”

Notably, Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead last year, was also on the same ‘no-fly list.’ Now the court noted that Brar and Dulai were seen as a potential threat to airline safety with the potential to undertake terror acts. 

The court ruling mentioned that the act empowers the public safety minister to ban people from flying if there are “reasonable grounds to suspect they will threaten transportation security or travel by air to commit a terrorism offence.”

Double Standards Exposed

While the court barred Khalistan terrorists from air travel suspecting a threat to public life, the Canadian Parliament observed a moment of silence this week to mark the first anniversary of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's murder in what India sees as a case of parliament accepting terror threat to its citizens.

Nijjar was gunned down near a parking lot in Canada's Surrey on June 18 last year. He was marked as a ‘designated terrorist’ by the Indian government under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

In what seemed to be a direct reply to the Canadian parliament's ‘moment of silence’ for the pro-khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Indian High Commission in Vancouver reiterated New Delhi's unwavering commitment to combating terrorism globally and gave a reminder of the Khalistani bombing of Air India 'Kanishka' flight in 1985.

The killing of the Khalistan terrorists triggered severe strain in India-Canada bilateral ties as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the ‘potential’ involvement of Indian agents in his killing. However, New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charge as ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated.’

The recent incidents highlight how Canada has been playing with fire by supporting anti-India terrorists. It has become a harvesting ground for terrorist groups like Khalistan who often organise anti-India activities. 

However, Canada has also paid the price of Khalistani terrorists. 

Kanishka Bombing

Significantly, June 23 marks the 39th anniversary of the bombing of the Air India 182 flight- Kanishka flight- flying on the Montreal-London-Delhi route. 

On June 23, 1985, the flight exploded mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Ireland, due to a "cowardly act of terror, carried out by Canada-based Khalistani terrorists," said the Indian High Commission in Ottawa in 2023.

The devastating incident resulted in the deaths of 329 innocent victims, including 268 Canadians and 24 Indians. The attack was termed as one of the most heinous terror-related air disasters in the history of civil aviation. 

Kanishka Bombing Rerun on Cards? 

Khalistan terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun, wanted by the Indian government, warned commuters to avoid travelling by Air India as it could lead their life to danger. "On Air India as of June 23rd, nobody should commute because your life could be in danger," threatened Pannun.

The video message was played in Vancouver during the "citizens' court" organized by pro-Khalistan separatists on June 18, 2024. Notably, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Air India bombings, Talwinder Singh Parmar's image was glorified as a "Canadian Sikh martyr" at the event in Vancouver.

Parmar's image was displayed next to Hardeep Singh Nijjar on the same banner, according to reports.