But after intensive cross-examination over four days, Mr. Kotli spoke much more quietly. He conceded yesterday that Mr. Bagri's speech 11 months before the Air-India tragedy was teeming with rage, filled with violent images and called for deadly revenge against prime minister Indira Gandhi and the government of India.

He acknowledged that Mr. Bagri called for revenge 11 times during the speech at New York's Madison Square Garden. "In excess of 50,000 youth have been martyred on the land of Punjab," Mr. Bagri said early in his speech. "I tell you one thing. They have amused themselves, these Hindu dogs. Now it is our turn."

Later, Mr. Bagri said the Sikhs had been humiliated. "Be ready, get up," he urged the crowd. "First, let us bring them to the same condition. Then we will make Khalistan," he said, referring to the name given to the independent state that many Sikhs advocate.

Mr. Kotli agreed with prosecutor Richard Cairns that Mr. Bagri called for the destruction of Delhi, the capital of India. He also said traitors to the Khalistan cause should be harmed and Khalistan supporters who hijack aircraft should be supported, Mr. Kotli said.

Mr. Bagri's speech was filled with references to death, mass murder, exploding bodies, war and execution by hanging and shooting. Responding to questions with a flat "Yes," Mr. Kotli agreed with Mr. Cairns that Mr. Bagri was trying "to inflame passions and arouse national pride . . . that the speech was a call to action for the Sikh people."

The prosecution has told the court that Mr. Bagri's motive for participating in the Air-India conspiracy was revealed in his New York speech in July of 1984.

Mr. Bagri and Ripudaman Singh Malik are accused of killing 331 people in two bomb explosions on June 23, 1985. The prosecution says Mr. Bagri took suitcases carrying the bombs to Vancouver's airport.

According to the prosecution theory, the bombings were revenge for government troops storming the Golden Temple, Sikh's holiest shrine, in June of 1984. The troops killed hundreds, some say thousands, of Sikhs while trying to capture Sikh insurgents who were using the temple as a command post.

Mr. Cairns's persistent questioning clearly took its toll on the witness. Sounding antagonistic, Mr. Kotli told the court during cross-examination that Mr. Cairns's questions confused him.

He appeared flustered when forced to acknowledge mistakes in his translation.

However, throughout his testimony, Mr. Kotli repeatedly rejected a suggestion that Mr. Bagri was urging Sikhs to take revenge against all Hindus. He said Mr. Bagri's anger was not directed at the Hindu religion. Mr. Bagri spoke out against Ms. Gandhi, who ordered the troops into the Golden Temple, and the Indian government, he said, making an analogy with a call for a change in government.