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PM Harper's Kanishka crash apology stirs strong emotions among Indo-Canadians | Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's apology about the Air India disaster reverberated across the country, stirring strong emotions among a new generation of Indo-Canadians. "It means a lot," said Romy Jassal, who was
only seven at the time of the terrorist bomb explosion. "I respect it, just in
memory of those who passed away," The Globe and Mail quoted him as saying further
on Wednesday at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara here, moments after the apology was made.
Bikramjit Singh Sandhar, president of the temple executive, said the apology extends
beyond the families of the victims. The terrorist bombing has cast a shadow over
the entire community. But we are the same as every other Canadian. We also want
answers," he said. "There is some comfort from the acknowledgment by someone of
government failings.But many people will be watching whether the apology is only
the first step or will lead to action on the inquiry report recommendations, Sandhar
added. Several Sikh gurdwaras in Canada held a special 48-hour non-stop reading
of the scripture to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the bombing. As Harper
was delivering his apology at a memorial in Toronto, reader Ranjit Kaur Dhillon
was reading the scripture at the Surrey temple. Several men, women and youngsters
came and went as the Scripture reading continued. They bowed and sat on the thick
maroon carpet , staying for five to 10 minutes. Outside, several said they came
to hear the prayers. They said they were not aware of the Air India memorial service.
The recital was to conclude later Wednesday with hymn and the lighting of candles
to commemorate the number of people who were killed. Sukhminder Singh Virk, who
was one at the time of the terrorist bombing, said he learned about the disaster
10 years ago. "For me, it is history" he said. He had a typical Canadian upbringing
and the disaster was not treated as a Canadian tragedy, he said. It was viewed
as an Indian tragedy. The apology is significant but does not remedy all the hurt,
Virk, a member of the temple executive, also said. "It shows an acknowledgment
of what happened," he said. "But it should not stop there," he added. Later in
Vancouver, about 100 people came out to a brief ceremony at the Air India memorial
in Stanley Park. |
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