Ottawa

Canadian MP Chandra Arya has sharply criticized a new petition launched by fellow Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal regarding the Air India Kanishka bombings of June 23, 1985, which resulted in the deaths of 329 people and marked the deadliest act of aviation terrorism before 9/11. The petition, available on the Canadian Parliament’s website, calls for a renewed investigation into the bombings to explore potential foreign intelligence involvement. It suggests that many Sikhs in Canada believe the attack was orchestrated by foreign agents to undermine their political efforts in India.

In a recent parliamentary address, Arya, who is of Indian descent, condemned the petition as an attempt by Khalistani extremists to spread conspiracy theories. He emphasized that the bombing was caused by a bomb planted by these extremists, highlighting that the ideology behind this act still exists among some individuals in Canada today. Arya referenced Bal Gupta, whose wife was a victim of the bombing, expressing frustration that such petitions reopen old wounds and are merely attempts to gain support for extremist activities.

Arya has also previously expressed concerns about rising radicalism in Canada, linking it to incidents of vandalism against Hindu temples and public displays of support for violence. He reiterated the need for Canadian law enforcement to take these threats seriously to prevent rhetoric from escalating into real-world violence against the Hindu community.