Close X
Friday, November 1, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada Must Guard Against Terrorism: PM Harper

IANS, 24 Jun, 2015 12:56 PM
    Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism and so "continued vigilance is essential", Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said.
     
    Harper made the remarks on Tuesday while laying a wreath in the Hall of Honour to mark the "National day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism" observed to honour those killed in the 1985 Air India bombing.
     
    An Air India flight flying from Toronto to London crashed off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people on board. Most of the dead were Canadians of Indian origin. 
     
    Sikh extremists were blamed for the bombing.
     
    Harper said he cannot "help but cast his mind back to the Canadians who perished in Air India Flight 182 and in the World Trade Centre attacks... and to the many terrorist activities foiled by the vigilance of Canadian security agencies.
     
    "The recollections serve as a reminder that Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism and that continued vigilance is essential."
     
    Addressing a gathering in parliament building here, he said it was a terror attack that killed the 329 passengers and crew members aboard Air India. 
     
    "On this sombre anniversary, we stand in solidarity with the friends and families who lost loved ones in that heinous attack and honour those lost.
     
    "We were deeply moved by this solemn tribute as well as by our meeting the kin of the victims," he added.
     
    Among the kin of the victims present was Susheel Gupta, whose mother Ramvati died in the bombing. Gupta said he regretted that his children would not be able to meet their grandmother.
     
    Meanwhile, a memorial service in Ireland was attended by India's Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan and Canadian Minister of Justice Peter MacKay.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Journalist Laura Robinson Says Furlong's Accusation Of Extortion Is '100 Per Cent Mistruth'

    Journalist Laura Robinson Says Furlong's Accusation Of Extortion Is '100 Per Cent Mistruth'
    VANCOUVER — A journalist who is suing former Vancouver Olympic CEO John Furlong for defamation says she was devastated and shocked after he implied she tried to extort money from him.

    Journalist Laura Robinson Says Furlong's Accusation Of Extortion Is '100 Per Cent Mistruth'

    RCMP Officer Convicted Of Perjury In Dziekanski Taser Death Up For Sentencing

    RCMP Officer Convicted Of Perjury In Dziekanski Taser Death Up For Sentencing
    Richard Peck is recommending a sentence of between a year and a half to three years for former RCMP corporal Banjamin (Monty) Robinson.

    RCMP Officer Convicted Of Perjury In Dziekanski Taser Death Up For Sentencing

    More Canadian Parents Opting For Home-schooling: Fraser Institute

    More Canadian Parents Opting For Home-schooling: Fraser Institute
    It says 21,662 Canadian children were registered as home-schooled students in 2012, an increase of 29 per cent over a five-year period, but acknowledges there are more homes-schooled kids not officially registered.

    More Canadian Parents Opting For Home-schooling: Fraser Institute

    Two Years After Promising Tougher Drunk Driving Laws, Tories Introduce A Plan

    OTTAWA — Two years after they first made the commitment, the Conservatives are finally introducing a renewed crackdown on drunk drivers.

    Two Years After Promising Tougher Drunk Driving Laws, Tories Introduce A Plan

    Woman Settles Human Rights Complaint With Regina Barber Shop That Turned Her Away

    REGINA — The owner of a Regina barber shop has apologized to a woman who was refused a haircut.

    Woman Settles Human Rights Complaint With Regina Barber Shop That Turned Her Away

    Alberta First Nations Have 70 Per Cent Higher Risk Of Stillborn Births: Study

    Alberta First Nations Have 70 Per Cent Higher Risk Of Stillborn Births: Study
    Researchers from the University of Alberta examined more than 425,000 births in Alberta from 2000 to 2009.

    Alberta First Nations Have 70 Per Cent Higher Risk Of Stillborn Births: Study