JUNE 23: On the solemn occasion marking 40 years since the tragic bombing of Air India Flight 182 (Kanishka), India joined Canada and Ireland in a powerful tribute to the 329 innocent lives lost, including over 80 children. The commemorative event, held in Ahakista, County Cork, Ireland—near the crash site—was attended by dignitaries from the three nations, bereaved families, first responders, and local Irish citizens.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri represented India at the ceremony and delivered a heartfelt address calling for global unity against terrorism. Describing the bombing as a “heinous, deliberate act” orchestrated by extremists based in Canada, the Minister underscored the need for proactive and coordinated international action to combat terrorism.
“This was not an accident,” Puri emphasized, “but a calculated attempt by fringe elements to divide India. Today, we must not only mourn but also unite against terrorism with shared purpose and urgency.”
Referring to the wider scourge of terrorism, Puri noted that India has endured decades of violent extremism, from Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir to the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He pointed to a disturbing 22% global increase in terrorism-related deaths in 2024, urging nations to treat terrorism as a shared, ongoing threat.
Calling Canada a valued partner, the Minister urged deeper bilateral cooperation in the areas of intelligence-sharing, counter-radicalization, and financial disruption of terror networks. He reaffirmed India’s readiness to collaborate fully to prevent such atrocities in the future.
Puri also expressed deep gratitude to the people of Ahakista and the Irish government for their compassion in 1985, when local residents supported grieving families. “Their humanity left an indelible mark,” he said, noting that this shared experience laid the foundation for strong India-Ireland ties, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $16 billion in 2023.
The event was attended by Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and Canadian Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, both of whom echoed the need for global solidarity in memory of the victims.
Minister Puri concluded with a powerful message: “Let this day remind the world—hatred and terror will never triumph over peace, humanity, and democracy.”
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