India Reminds Ottawa of Kanishka Bombing After Canadian Parliament Mourns Terrorist Nijjar

New Delhi: India stays strong at the forefront in countering terrorism and asserted that it will continue to work with all nations to tackle the global threat while responding to the Canadian Parliament observing a 'moment of silence' for terrorist-designate pro-Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was allegedly assassinated last year.

In a series of posts on X, India in Vancouver said, "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," the post continued

"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 embassy added.

India's response comes after the Canadian House of Commons on June 18, Tuesday, observed a moment of silence  ‘to honour Nijjar.’

Bilateral ties between India and Canada have been strained since Ottawa accused India of being involved in the alleged assassination of Nijjar in June last year in British Columbia, Canada.

The 45-year-old Nijjar was identified as a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2020. He was killed outside Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in British Columbia on 18 June 2023. 

India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is about Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity. New Delhi has also conveyed its "deep concerns" to Ottawa and urged it to take strong action against those elements.