The Canadian Parliament has passed a nonbinding motion that recommends the government convene a public inquiry into the Air India disaster, after a British Columbia court last month acquitted two suspects in the 1995 bombing. More than 200 Canadians were among 329 people killed when a bomb blew apart an Air India plane off the coast of Ireland. Families of the victims have urged Ottawa to hold a new investigation into Canada?s worst mass murder.

Calls for a probe began soon after the 1995 crash and a related bombing that killed two baggage handlers at Narita airport. They have grown much louder since Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri were found innocent of murder and conspiracy on March 16 after a lengthy investigation and trial. Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan met yesterday in Toronto with relatives of Air India victims. Several families boycotted the talks, saying they don?t believe the government is sincere or committed to a public inquiry.

McLellan has brushed aside calls for an inquiry, offering instead to meet the families. When Gurmant Grewal, a Conservative lawmaker from British Columbia, proposed the motion for an inquiry, McLellan did not support it, but announced that she would appoint an ?eminent person? to review the Air India file and make recommendations. McLellan and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli met about 20 relatives at a Toronto hotel. The minister said she wanted to meet the families... ?so that we have a good understanding of what questions remain unanswered for them.? But an association representing about 70 families boycotted the meeting, saying McLellan isn?t serious about getting to the bottom of the disaster.