‘There’s a History’: Jaishankar Mentions Kanishka Bombing, Calls Out Nijjar’s ‘Graphic’ Track Record

Speaking on Khalistani row and Canada giving space to extremism, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, at an event in London, cited the Kanishka bombings and said Nijjar had a “pretty graphic” track record.

Responding to whether he believes Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar is a terrorist, Jaishankar said “he has a track record which is there in the social media and that track record is a pretty graphic one… and I would leave everyone to make their judgement.”

Recalling the 1985 Air India bombing, Jaishankar said: “We saw a much bigger incident, where bombs were put on two Air India planes. Fortunately, on of them landed before the bomb could go off. In the other one, over 327 people died, when the plane crashed off Ireland.”

Later, Jaishankar addressed the broader issue of violent and extreme political opinions in Canadian politics advocating separatism from India, some through violent means.

“In Canada, we feel that Canadian politics has given space to violent and extreme political opinions which advocate separatism from India, including through violent means. And these people have been accommodated in Canadian politics,” the EAM said.

He noted the accommodation of such views within Canadian politics, leading to attacks on Indian diplomats, including the High Commission, and intimidation of consul generals and other diplomats.

“We’ve had attacks on the High Commission, smoke bombs thrown at the High Commission. My Consul general and other diplomats were intimidated in public, on record, with no action taken by those who did know. This is a country where there is a previous history,” he added.

He went on to add that given all this, in a country like Canada, which is as democratic as India and UK, “freedom of speech and freedom of responsibility comes with certain responsibility. The misuse of that freedom and the toleration of the misuse cannot be justified”.