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"Rajiv Gandhi questioned security lapses"

Toronto: In a phone call just after the bombing of the Air India plane in 1985, then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi asked his Canadian counterpart why all the baggage on the flight was not removed and re-checked in Montreal when three pieces were found to be suspicious.

Mr. Gandhi had suggested to the then Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney that the country had breached international procedures by not re-screening all the luggage on Flight 182.

Details of the emotionally-charged exchange were revealed on Wednesday in declassified government documents released at the judicial inquiry probing into the June 23, 1985, bombing that killed 329 and a blast the same day at Tokyo's Narita Airport that killed two.

"Concerned"

A June 27 briefing document about the call says: "Overall impression was that Mr. Gandhi was highly excited, perturbed and concerned, but highly appreciative of the call."

"After our Prime Minister related his sympathies and condolences, Mr. Gandhi said he understood three suitcases had been pulled from Air India flight in Montreal and his understanding was that when such a thing happened, it was standard [international] practice that all suitcases would be searched, but this had not been done in this case," the document says.

"Ensure safety"

"Our Prime Minister did not comment directly on this but went on to say that in response to Indian requests, we had made every effort to ensure safety of Indian diplomatic personnel and premises in Canada. We would redouble our protective efforts and prosecute to the full extent of the law anyone involved in illegal action," National Post reported quoting the documents.

— PTI

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"Rajiv Gandhi questioned security lapses"

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