New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday described the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing as the ‘most barbarous act of terrorism’ as he paid tributes to the victims.
‘This year marks the 25th anniversary of the crash of Air India Flight 182 that led to the loss of 329 innocent lives. This was a horrific incident which shook the world’s conscience. It is with a sense of deep pain and sorrow that I join the families and friends in paying my homage to all those who fell victim to this most barbarous act of terrorism,’ Manmohan Singh said in a message.
‘On this solemn occasion,’ the prime minister vowed ‘to rededicate ourselves to fighting and eliminating terrorism with determination and joint action’.
All 329 people aboard the flight from Montreal to New Delhi were killed when the plane was blown up in mid-air near the Irish coast June 23, 1985.
Sikh separatists were blamed for the bombing.