Memorial for Air India bombing victims in Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto

Health Minister Adrian Dix addresses the gathering at the Air India bombing memorial in Vancouver. Photos: Consulates General of India and Indian High Commission

HEALTH Minister Adrian Dix and Indian Consul General Masakui Rungsung in Vancouver joined the family members of the 329 innocent victims who lost their lives in the dastardly bombing of Air India Flight 182 on June 23, 1985, off the coast of Ireland, at the annual event at the Air India Memorial in Stanley Park’s Ceperley Playground on Sunday.

Rungsung “reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and urged to stand firm in defending peace, unity and justice against those who seek to spread fear and harm.” He added: “India salutes the resilience, tenacity and indominable spirt of families of the victims.”

Masakui Rungsung lays a wreath at the Air India Memorial in Vancouver.

In Ottawa, Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, paying homage to the victims of Air India Flight 182, said: “No government in the world should overlook the threat of terrorism emanating from its territories for political gains. Human lives are much more important than the transitory political interests. All terrorist activities should be met with exemplary legal and social actions, before they start harming the larger humanity. Governments, security agencies, and international organizations must work in concert to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their financing, and counter their twisted ideologies.”

The Irish Ambassador to Canada, Eamonn McKee, was among those who attended the memorial.

Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma.

In Toronto, Indian Consul General Siddhartha Nath attended the memorial service at Queen’s Park for the victims of Air India Flight 182 and met with the family members of the victims.

He also laid a wreath at the Air India Flight 182 memorial in Humber Park, Etobicoke.

Indian Consul General Siddhartha Nath at the Air India Memorial in Etobicoke.