Flight 182, traveling from Montreal to New Delhi via London, was destroyed by a mid-air explosion over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 329 passengers and crew onboard. The blame was quickly placed on Sikh separatists, allegedly retaliating for the Indian Army’s Operation Blue Star in 1984, which desecrated the Golden Temple. The bombing was labeled an act of terrorism carried out by Khalistani groups.
However, Soft Target offers a different perspective. Kashmeri and McAndrew present evidence suggesting that Indian intelligence agencies may have played a significant role, aiming to undermine the Sikh independence movement and pressuring Canada to suppress Sikh activism.
India’s intelligence agency, RAW, is accused of infiltrating Sikh organizations in Canada to monitor and manipulate their activities. According to Soft Target, RAW agents may have intentionally created the impression of widespread Sikh extremism to discredit the Khalistan movement. By portraying Sikhs as violent separatists, the Indian government sought to weaken legitimate concerns about the Golden Temple attack and the 1984 Sikh genocide.
The book alleges that RAW agents went beyond mere surveillance and actively incited violence within the Sikh community in Canada. Agents provocateurs reportedly infiltrated Sikh groups, pushing discussions and activities toward extremism. This strategy left the community vulnerable to backlash and heightened scrutiny from both the Canadian public and government.
Despite decades of investigations, critical questions about the bombing linger. Why wasn’t Flight 182 given proper protection, even after receiving intelligence about a potential attack? Why did Canadian authorities fail to prevent the bombing despite clear warnings? Soft Target suggests that investigative efforts were deliberately hindered, possibly due to Indian diplomatic influence.
The Air India bombing needs to be understood within the larger context of the Indian government’s actions against Sikhs in the 1980s. From the military assault on the Golden Temple to state-sponsored violence following Indira Gandhi’s assassination, including the Sikh genocide, the Indian government systematically targeted Sikh identity and aspirations. The Air India tragedy gave India a global stage to frame Sikhs as terrorists, diverting attention from the legitimate grievances that fueled the Khalistan movement.
For years, the Sikh community has fought for transparency and justice concerning the Air India bombing. Many believe that the official narrative conveniently hides the Indian state’s involvement. Sikh leaders in Canada have repeatedly called for a fresh investigation into foreign interference, especially RAW’s activities during that time.
Sikh organizations and activists argue that labeling the bombing as a "Sikh extremist" act has severely harmed their community’s reputation. By exposing the allegations against Indian intelligence, they hope to challenge the false narrative and uncover the truth.
Canada is not without fault in this tragedy. Poor handling of the investigation, lack of accountability, and failure to act on intelligence warnings have left the victims’ families in endless grief. Additionally, by succumbing to Indian diplomatic pressure, Canada allowed Sikh voices to be silenced and contributed to the community’s vilification.
The Air India bombing, along with the Komagata Maru incident in 1914 and the 1984 Sikh genocide, reveals a disturbing history of systemic injustice against Sikhs. This pattern calls for acknowledgment and redress.
The 1985 Air India bombing was not only a horrific attack on innocent lives but also a calculated attempt to suppre1985 Air India Bombingss Sikh identity and self-determination. While mainstream accounts blame the Sikh diaspora, evidence from Soft Target and other sources points to the need for a closer examination of the Indian government’s role.
For the Sikh community, uncovering the truth about Flight 182 is about more than clearing their name. It is about holding the real culprits accountable and ensuring such tragedies are never used for political manipulation again.
References
Zuhair Kashmeri & Brian McAndrew, Soft Target: How the Indian Intelligence Service Penetrated Canada (1989).
Canadian Government Inquiry Report on Air India Flight 182 (2006).
Human Rights Watch, India: 1984 Sikh Massacres and Impunity.
Media reports and survivor accounts from the Sikh diaspora.
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