The 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing was one of the worst tragedies in Canadian history, taking the lives of 329 innocent people. While the blame was officially placed on Sikh extremists, evidence from investigative sources, such as the book Soft Target by Canadian journalists Zuhair Kashmeri and Brian McAndrew, suggests a much more troubling story. This book and other findings claim that India’s intelligence agency, RAW (Research and Analysis Wing), manipulated the investigation to protect its own interests and damage the Sikh community’s image.
After the bombing, the Indian government quickly blamed Sikh activists who were advocating for an independent Sikh state, Khalistan. This narrative served India’s purpose of portraying Sikhs as dangerous extremists to the world. However, Soft Target provides evidence that RAW played a role in shaping the investigation to suit its agenda. The book reveals how Indian agents planted false evidence, infiltrated Sikh organizations in Canada, and put pressure on Canadian authorities to follow their lead. These actions not only misled the investigation but also damaged the reputation of the global Sikh community, making it harder for them to seek justice.
The book also points out that RAW had infiltrated Sikh groups in Canada before the bombing. These agents didn’t just monitor activities; they actively stirred up divisions and encouraged radical behavior within the community to make it look dangerous. This created a false narrative that justified India’s crackdown on Sikh activism while distracting from the real issues, such as the human rights abuses against Sikhs in India following Operation Blue Star and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
The tragedy of Air India Flight 182 is just one part of a larger story of the Indian government targeting Sikhs. A recent and shocking example is the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader and Khalistan advocate in Canada. Nijjar was well-respected in the Sikh community and was actively working for Sikh rights. On June 18, 2023, he was killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. Canadian authorities later accused Indian agents of being involved in his murder. This has caused widespread anger, with many seeing it as further proof that India is willing to use extreme measures to silence Sikh voices, even outside its borders.
The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar highlights how India’s actions against Sikhs did not stop in the 1980s. It shows that RAW and other agencies are still actively working to discredit Sikh leaders and manipulate narratives. By labeling peaceful activists as extremists, India continues to harm the Sikh community and divert attention away from the real issues, such as the need for justice and accountability for past and ongoing human rights abuses.
Canada also shares some responsibility in these events. During the Air India bombing investigation, Canadian authorities ignored clear warnings of a possible attack and mishandled the case after it happened. Many believe this was partly due to pressure from India, which influenced how the investigation was conducted. Similarly, Canada’s slow response to Nijjar’s assassination has raised questions about its ability to protect its citizens and take a stand against foreign interference. The Sikh community in Canada has been vocal in demanding the truth, but their calls for justice remain unanswered.
The manipulation of the Air India investigation, combined with the assassination of Sikh leaders like Hardeep Singh Nijjar, shows a clear pattern of targeting Sikhs. The Indian government’s actions have caused immense harm to the Sikh community’s image, both in Canada and globally. Many Sikhs feel that their peaceful fight for justice and self-determination has been overshadowed by false accusations and deliberate interference.
The fight for justice is not just about clearing the Sikh community’s name. It is about holding those responsible for these actions accountable and preventing similar tragedies in the future. The Sikh community continues to push for transparency and truth, both for the victims of the Air India bombing and for leaders like Nijjar who have been targeted for their beliefs. By standing up against manipulation and injustice, they are honouring the memory of those who have been lost and fighting for a better future.
References
- Kashmeri, Zuhair & McAndrew, Brian. Soft Target: How the Indian Intelligence Service Penetrated Canada.
- Canadian Government Inquiry Report on Air India Flight 182 (2006).
- Media reports and survivor accounts on the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
- Statements from Canadian government officials regarding foreign interference.
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