IN DEPTH: AIR INDIA
Quotes
CBC News Online | June 23, 2005
"We are not naive, we are not ignorant of the world and its sorrows, but this act of evil defies comprehension. It was an unimaginable loss, it was your loss, it was the nation's loss. Make no mistake, the flight may have been Air India's, it may have taken place off the coast of Ireland, but in so many ways this is a Canadian tragedy ... We must never forget that remembrance is indeed a timeless act of love. We are here today to keep alive the memory of those who are missed. We feel them in our hearts, we mourn them, we celebrate them, and always and forever, we remember."
Prime Minister Paul Martin, speaking at a ceremony in Ahakista, Ireland, marking the 20th anniversary of the Air India bombing, June 23, 2005.
"Only truth can set us free. Do not trivialize the magnitude of this tragedy by saying nothing can be done, or 20 years have gone by. History will not forgive the impotence."
Padmini Turlapati, who lost two sons in the tragedy, speaking at the memorial in Ahakista, Ireland, June 23, 2005.
"Today, once again, we have lost our families all over again, this time to the Canadian justice system."
Sanjay Lazar, who lost his family in the bombing, speaking in Vancouver after the acquittal of Ajaib Singh Bagri and Ripudaman Singh Malik in the Air India trial, May 6, 2005.
"It is said that time heals all wounds, but many of us here would beg to differ. The continuous search for justice and consequent lack of closure in this Canadian tragedy, even after 20 years, have been a constant agony for families and Canadians at large."
A relative of a victim of the Air India bombing speaking at the memorial in Ahakista, Ireland, June 23, 2005.
"I want the public to remember these people ... I would like to see Canadians understand that this is not a local tragedy, it's not a tragedy that happened to me and a few people. I want them to understand it's a national tragedy, which has never been sort of resolved."
Anant Anantaraman lost his wife and two daughters in the Air India tragedy. He spoke with CBC Radio's As It Happens on June 5, 2000, 15 years after the tragedy.
"Our Canadian system is just incompetent to handle acts of terrorism of this type."
Bal Gupta, who lost is wife in the explosion, speaking after the not guilty verdict was handed down in the Air India trial, May 6, 2005.
"I never deny buying some items ... I bought the tuner, right, and gave it to someone else. I don't know what happened after that. But I did not make the bomb, or know of anybody who asked me to make a bomb."
Inderjit Singh Reyat, who was convicted in 1991 in the Narita Airport bombing case. He served 10 years for manslaughter in the deaths of the two baggage handlers at the Tokyo airport, but insisted he was innocent.
"We wanted to do something in return for the community that has done so much for us."
Babu Tulapati, speaking about the scholarship fund he created five years ago in the name of the more than 100 children killed when Flight 182 exploded. The fund benefits students in Bantry, Ireland, the town closest to where the explosion occurred. He and his wife Padmina lost their 11- and 14-year-old sons in the disaster.
"We were not really anticipating anyone to help us. Most of us were going to borrow money if it came to that. So, I think that has been a kind and good gesture on the part of the Canadian government."
Perviz Madon, whose husband was on Air India Flight 182, speaking about the federal government's plans to help the families of the Air India victims pay for their travel to Ireland for the 20th anniversary of the bombing.
"The local people just welcomed us, I saw many faces yesterday and today I hadn't seen in 20 years ... just kind and wonderful strangers who welcomed us into their homes and into their country is what I remember."
Susheel Gupta, who lost his mother on Air India Flight 182, speaking to CBC Radio from Ahakista, Ireland, on June 23, 2005.
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