'Dark forces energised again': Nearly 4 decades after Kanishka bombing, India-Canada ties in choppy waters once more

India-Canada ties have been were strained right since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged last year that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, whom India had designated a “terrorist”, was shot dead in Surrey, Vancouver, on June 18 last year. Canadian authorities found it to be a highly coordinated attack and the government was quick to declare suspected involvement of Indian agents. India had dismissed the allegations, dubbed them “absurd”.

A year later, the Canadian Parliament marked the anniversary of the killings of the Khalistani separatist leader by observing a moment of silence. In retaliation, the Indian Consulate General in Vancouver announced a memorial service to honour the 329 victims of the Khalistani bombing of the Air India Kanishka flight in 1985.

Dark Forces Energised Again

Two days later, on June 20, Indian-origin Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya also recalled the Kanishka bombing that claimed hundreds of lives and stated that the ideology responsible for the terrorist attack is still alive among a few people in Canada.

He pointed out that the celebration of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassination by "Khalistani supporters" demonstrates that "dark forces have been energised again".

Arya said, “Mr Speaker, June 23rd is the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. 39 years back, on this day, Air India Flight 182 was blown up mid-day by a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistani extremists. It killed all 329 passengers and crew members and is the largest mass killing in Canadian history.”

"Unfortunately, many Canadians are not aware that even today. The ideology responsible for this terrorist attack is still alive among few people in Canada. The recent celebration of the assassination of Hindu Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Khalistan supporters, glorifying violence and hate, shows that the dark forces have been energised again and point to dreadful times ahead. Hindu Canadians are rightfully concerned. I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims of Air India bombing.”

The Kanishka Bombings

Nearly 40 years have passed since the Delhi-bound Air India 182 Kanishka flight exploded mid-air on June 23, 1985, killing all passengers and crew members on-board.

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa had in 2023 declared it a “cowardly act of terror, carried out by Canada-based Khalistani terrorists”. More recently, the Consulate General of India, Toronto, announced a memorial service for the victims of the 1985 tragedy on June 23 at South Lawns, Queen's Park.

Strained Ties

India-Canada ties have been strained since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged last year that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Nijjar.

It worsened further when Canada observed a moment of silence for the NIA-designated terrorist and India retaliated with a reminder of the 1985 attack and the alleged half-baked probe into the incident by Canadian authorities, although they have claimed that investigations into the heinous terror attack are still on. Their investigation had also alleged that the Kanishka bombings were planned by Sikh separatists who wanted to avenge the Indian Army's 1984 ‘Operation Blue Star’.

Moreover, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to power for a third term, Trudeau remarked that Modi's continuation as the Prime Minister of India would be an “opportunity” to engage on various significant matters. “Now that he's been re-elected, I believe there's an opportunity for us to engage, particularly on critical issues related to national security, ensuring the safety of Canadians, and upholding the rule of law,” he said.

Meanwhile, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks between India and Canada have been on hold since September 2023. It is not likely to resume any time soon unless Canada sees a change of guard following the October 2025 federal elections.

(With ANI inputs)