Canada Flag will be lowered half-fly on June 23 in respect
of Air India victims
Toronto, Jun 08, 2005
Darshan Malhotra
NRI press
Families of the victims of Air India disaster met with
Prime Minister Paul Martin on Tuesday and were told that
he will join them at a special remembrance ceremony in Ireland.
NRI, Bal Gupta said, "It's a bit sad that it took
20 years, but it's important."
NRI, Rattan Kalsi, who lost his daughter in the attack,
said he wants two things. "I want justice. Give me
justice. Give me my daughter back." "We are not
looking for revenge or anything like that, it is just that
justice should be served," said Sunita Manjania.
Ottawa has already promised to cover part of the travel
costs of families who wish to attend. This will be a special
commemoration on the 20th anniversary of the carnage on
June 23. NRI families to listen to Martin and to get answers
about where Ottawa stands on the call for a public inquiry.
On June 23, 1985, Air India Flight 182 from Montreal to
London, carrying luggage loaded in Vancouver, exploded and
crashed into the Atlantic Ocean 240 kilometers off the coast
of Ireland. All 329 people on board were killed.
Fifty-four minutes earlier, a suitcase loaded in Vancouver
onto Canadian Airlines Flight 003 exploded in the airport
at Narita, Japan. The suitcase was being transferred to
Air India Flight 301 to Bangkok and Delhi. Two baggage handlers
were killed and four other persons injured.
Ripudaman Singh Malik, Ajaib Singh Bagri, and Inderjit
Singh Reyat were arrested in relation to the bombings. In
February 2003. Reyat pleaded guilty to manslaughter. NRI
families have always demanded an inquiry, but renewed their
push in March after a B.C. judge acquitted two NRI men,
Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri, charged in
the bombing.
The Air India Trial was the costliest in Canadian history,
estimated at about $130 million.
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