Ottawa, October 31, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Sikh Genocide in India, the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) has sent a formal letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, copied to all opposition party leaders, urging the Canadian Parliament to formally recognize the event as a genocide.
This call comes amidst recent controversy surrounding Indian transnational repression and foreign interference, which has targeted Sikh activists in Canada.
These acts reflect an ongoing culture of impunity in India, where Sikhs continue to face state-sanctioned repression. The WSO has stressed the need for Canada to address these events through a formal recognition of the 1984 Sikh Genocide, linking past impunity to current dangers for Sikh communities worldwide.
In November 1984, tens of thousands of Sikhs across India were killed, rendered refugees, and subjected to extreme violence in state-orchestrated attacks that also targeted Sikh homes, businesses, and gurdwaras.
The organizers and perpetrators of these horrific events have yet to be held accountable, perpetuating a culture of impunity. This environment endangers minority communities in India and has recently extended to transnational repression affecting the Sikh diaspora.
WSO President Danish Singh said in the letter, “Recognition of the Sikh Genocide in Canadian Parliament would honor those who suffered and lost their lives. It would also underline Canada’s commitment to justice, human rights, and the healing of trauma inflicted upon the Sikh community.”
The Full Text Of The Letter Is Provided Below:
The Right Honorable Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Re: Recognition of 1984 Sikh Genocide
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,
On the eve of the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Sikh Genocide in India, we write to request that the Parliament of Canada formally recognize these events as genocide.
As you know, the 1984 Sikh Genocide is an issue that continues to matter to Sikh Canadians. Thousands of Sikhs were killed across India in state-orchestrated massacres. Over the course of just six days, tens of thousands of Sikhs lost their lives while many more were rendered refugees, with the destruction of Sikh homes, businesses, and gurdwaras.
Electoral lists were used to identify Sikh families and homes; state-rationed kerosene was used to burn Sikhs alive, and the police and army actively facilitated the massacres and, in some cases, even engaged in attacks on Sikhs.
Those responsible for planning and organizing the killings have not been brought to justice. The Government of India’s Nanavati Commission Report acknowledged “but for the backing and help of influential and resourceful persons, killing of Sikhs so swiftly and in large numbers could not have happened.”
The lingering impact of these events can still be felt today, particularly among survivors and their families, including those residing in the “Widow Colony” in New Delhi, who continue to seek justice and recognition of their suffering.
The lack of any prosecution for the perpetrators of the 1984 Sikh Genocide has resulted in a culture of impunity in India where minority communities can be targeted without consequence. The effects of this can be seen in India’s transnational repression activities and the targeting of Sikh activists in Canada and other countries.
The Sikh community, both in Canada and globally, has not forgotten the physical and psychological trauma inflicted by these acts of violence.
Recognizing the state-sponsored violence against Sikhs as a Genocide is not only a question of justice for the victims and their families but also a crucial step toward reconciliation and accountability. It sets a precedent for acknowledging past wrongs and promotes a path forward for healing.
Such a step would not be without precedent in India or in Canada.
In December 2014, India’s then Union Home Minister (now Defence Minister) Rajnath Singh acknowledged that the November 1984 massacres of Sikhs across India were “not [a] riot, it was genocide instead” those responsible for the killings have not been brought to justice.
(Kant, V. 2014, December 27. 1984 Riots Were Genocide, Says Rajnath. The Hindu.) In November 2017, Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also referred to the events of November 1984 as a “genocide.”
On June 30, 2015, The Delhi Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the following motion:
“This House strongly condemns the Sikh genocide happened 30 years back in November 1984 and pays homage to the people killed. This House also expresses its resentment that the victims are still knocking about from pillar to post for the want of Justice and are still waiting for it.”
In its judgment delivered on November 28, 2018, in SHAMBIR & ORS v. STATE case, the Delhi High Court observed with respect to the events of November 1984, “the large-scale rioting, mob violence, arson, plunder, genocide and looting has been duly proved and established.” (Gauba, R.K. 1984 Shambir & Ors vs. State on 28 November, 2018. https://indiankanoon.org/doc/123796451)
In Canada, the Ontario Legislature passed a motion recognizing the Sikh Genocide in April 2017, and the City of Surrey proclaimed November 2020 as ‘Sikh Genocide Remembrance Month.”
The recognition of the Sikh Genocide in Canada’s Parliament on this 40th anniversary is very important to the Sikh community, particularly given the recent incidents of Indian foreign interference and transnational repression. Such a move would resonate deeply with Sikhs not just in Canada but across the world and highlight Canada’s commitment to justice and human rights.
We hope to see the Government of Canada formally recognize the 1984 Sikh Genocide, and by doing so, honor the memory of those lost and stand in solidarity with the Sikh community.
Sincerely,
 has sent a formal letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, copied to all opposition party leaders, urging the Canadian Parliament to formally recognize the event as a genocide.){kind=link}