Canadian Sikh leader denounces Kanishka bombing mastermind
TORONTO: Facing attack over his appearance at a rally featuring posters of Khalistani leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and attending an event organised by a separatist group, New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh has for the first time accepted that Babbar Khalsa International founder Talwinder Singh Parmar was the man behind the terrorist bombing of Air India flight 182 in 1985.
Jagmeet told national broadcaster CBC: “There was an inquiry that was conducted into this horrible terrorist act. The inquiry identified specifically Talwinder Singh Parmar, and I accept the findings of the investigation…i accept them and I condemn all those responsible.”
Nearly six months after he evaded questions about posters of Parmar being displayed at some gurdwaras in Canada during an interview with CBC’S Terry Milewski, Singh also took a stand on the matter, saying: “Personally, I think the displaying of a picture of Parmar is something that re-traumatises and hurts and injures people that are suffering so much in terms of that loss in their lives.”
He said he didn’t think such glorification was “appropriate” and added, “I don’t think it should be done. It doesn’t help us move forward with peace and reconciliation.” The bombing of Air India flight 182, planned and operationalised in Canada, killed 329 people, including 268 Canadian citizens. It remains the worst terrorist incident in Canada’s history. Singh’s evasive stance on the Khalistan issue has been in focus since he was elected head of the NDP, one of Canada’s three biggest political parties, last year.