Dublin – Marking the 40th anniversary of one of the deadliest aviation terror attacks in history, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri led an Indian delegation in paying homage to the victims of the Air India Flight 182 (Kanishka) bombing at Ireland’s Ahakista Memorial on Monday.
Joining him at the solemn ceremony were Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and Canadian Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree. The dignitaries gathered to honor the 329 lives lost on June 23, 1985, when a bomb exploded in the cargo hold of the Montreal–London–Delhi–Mumbai flight, causing it to crash mid-air into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Indian delegation included BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh and elected representatives from five Indian states: Arvinder Singh Lovely (Delhi MLA), Baldev Singh Aulakh (Uttar Pradesh Minister), Gurveer Singh Brar (Rajasthan MLA), Trilok Singh Cheema (Uttarakhand MLA), and Narinder Singh Raina (Jammu and Kashmir MLA).
In his remarks, Union Minister Puri emphasized the need for a unified global response to the continuing threat of terrorism.
“The world must come together – not just in moments of mourning like this, but through sustained, collective efforts to eliminate terrorism in all its forms,” he said.
Puri noted that terrorism remains a current and evolving threat, not a relic of the past.
“India has long endured the scourge of terrorism — from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab to Mumbai. Our people have faced bombings, assassinations, and horrific acts of violence. The world must remain vigilant,” he added.
The Minister also made a pointed appeal to the Canadian government, urging stronger cooperation with India in tackling terrorism and extremism.
“Canada is a valued friend and partner. Our relationship is rooted in shared democratic values and robust cultural and economic ties,” Puri said. “We must deepen our collaboration in intelligence sharing, counter-radicalization efforts, and the disruption of terror financing networks.”
The Ahakista ceremony served both as a moment of remembrance and a renewed call for international solidarity against terrorism—a message underscored by the presence of leaders from three nations profoundly affected by the 1985 tragedy. (Source: IANS)
