Minister Muraleedharan Dismisses 'Baseless' Italian Report on 1985 Air India Kanishka Crash, Urges Faith in Indian Agencies

The tragic memory of the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing, a wound that continues to ache for so many, has once again been stirred. This time, however, it's not a fresh revelation from the long-standing investigation, but a controversial new narrative attempting to rewrite history.

Union Minister V. Muraleedharan has unequivocally rejected a recent Italian report, reportedly circulated by Canadian filmmaker Richie Mehta, which astonishingly claims the devastating crash was due to structural failure, not a bomb. His message was loud and clear: trust our own agencies, not these 'outsiders' peddling what he's called 'fake news' and 'baseless' assertions.

It's easy to understand why the Minister's response is so firm. For decades, the world, and especially India and Canada, has understood the Kanishka crash as a heinous act of terrorism. The established facts point to a bomb planted on board, an act that claimed the lives of 329 innocent people, including many Canadians of Indian origin. To suddenly introduce a theory of structural failure, nearly 40 years later, simply flies in the face of all the painstaking investigative work done over the years.

Muraleedharan didn't mince words, emphasizing the heavy price India paid. "India has paid a huge price due to this incident, an act of terrorism," he stated, recalling the tragic loss of life. He urged everyone, particularly in India, to place their faith in the country's own premier investigative bodies, such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which have meticulously probed the incident. After all, they're the ones with direct access and jurisdiction, having dedicated countless hours to uncovering the truth.

The minister also highlighted the historical context, pointing out that this particular incident was thoroughly investigated, and that the then government had a clear understanding of the tragedy's origins. He firmly believes that any attempt to re-evaluate or redefine the cause of the crash, especially through what he perceives as unsubstantiated foreign reports, is not just misinformed but actively disrespectful to the victims and their families.

In essence, Muraleedharan's stance is a call for intellectual honesty and a firm rejection of any effort to dilute the severity and the true nature of the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing. It serves as a reminder that some historical truths, especially those stained with such profound human loss, should not be easily manipulated or revised by external, unverified narratives. Let's stick with the facts, and trust those who have genuinely sought them out.