Vancouver: The former Ontario Premier, Bob Rae, will lead a new public inquiry into the 1985 bombing of Air India flight Kanishka to examine the failures in stopping the attack, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan has said.

The announcement came after Mr. Rae, independent investigator appointed to review the trial, delivered a report on Wednesday recommending a ``focussed, policy-based inquiry'' to answer lingering questions about the bombing, which killed 329 persons off the Irish Coast.

Ms. McLellan, who tapped Mr. Rae in April to evaluate possible steps after the acquittal of the two principal suspects, said he was the ideal person to head the new inquiry, given his understanding of the case and rapport with victims' families.

A formal order establishing the investigation would be in place to swiftly pursue answers to questions on the tragedy.

In his report, Mr. Rae said the disaster ``was mass murder.''

``This was a bombing attack carried out on Canadian civilians and the consequences of that have to be understood by the people of Canada. The Air India bombings were the worst encounter with terrorism that Canada has experienced. We cannot leave any issue unresolved."

But an inquiry could not determine civil or criminal responsibility in the downing of the flight.

``The fundamental objective of an inquiry has to be lessons learned," Mr. Rae told reporters. — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail