Close X
Wednesday, November 20, 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

    Judge rapped for visiting dating website, chatting up sex assault detective

    Judge rapped for visiting dating website, chatting up sex assault detective
    TORONTO — A judge who created a bogus online dating profile and told a detective that information from the website could have been used to "hang" a female complainant has had his knuckles rapped by Ontario's top court.

    Judge rapped for visiting dating website, chatting up sex assault detective

    Baby seal taken back to the sea by the RCMP in Valentine's Day rescue

    Baby seal taken back to the sea by the RCMP in Valentine's Day rescue
    NEWTOWN, N.S. — A baby seal found "waddling" near a highway in Nova Scotia on Valentine's Day was returned to the sea by the RCMP.

    Baby seal taken back to the sea by the RCMP in Valentine's Day rescue

    Indian-American, 28, Shot Dead Inside Liquor Shop In US

    Indian-American, 28, Shot Dead Inside Liquor Shop In US
    Amit Patel, 28, was shot and killed inside Roseway Liquors in Irvington Sunday afternoon, Eyewitness News reported Sunday, adding that authorities were trying to identify the killer.

    Indian-American, 28, Shot Dead Inside Liquor Shop In US

    Notable Canadians call on Harper to push Mohamed Fahmy's case with Egypt

    Notable Canadians call on Harper to push Mohamed Fahmy's case with Egypt
    TORONTO — A number of prominent Canadians are calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to intervene "personally and immediately" in the case of a Canadian journalist on trial in Egypt.

    Notable Canadians call on Harper to push Mohamed Fahmy's case with Egypt

    Supreme Court of Canada to hear arguments on 'human smuggling' cases

    Supreme Court of Canada to hear arguments on 'human smuggling' cases
    OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada will hear arguments starting today in a series of cases that question the depth and breadth of Canada's human smuggling laws.

    Supreme Court of Canada to hear arguments on 'human smuggling' cases

    Harper government signals plan to push through legislation to end CP Rail strike

    Harper government signals plan to push through legislation to end CP Rail strike
    OTTAWA — Labour Minister Kellie Leitch says federal legislation to force an end to the Canadian Pacific Railway (TSX:CP) strike is vital because the work stoppage threatens the economy.

    Harper government signals plan to push through legislation to end CP Rail strike