A motion moved by the New Democratic Party or NDP for the recognition of the violence against Sikhs in India in 1984 as a “genocide” failed to be passed by a Parliamentary committee, this week.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh moved the motion before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. He said notice of the motion had been given on June 19 this year.
Introducing the motion, Singh asked the committee to “call on the House to recognise that a genocide was carried out against the Sikhs in India” in 1984 and to “call upon Indian government to make measures to bring those responsible for this violence to justice.”
Canada’s Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Rob Oliphant described those events as “horrendous” and “tragic”, adding it was “not just an Indian issue but also a Canadian issue by virtue of our population in this country.” However, he raised procedural questions about it being adopted by the committee and suggested other alternatives.
Later, Singh posted on X, “Today, in the Foreign Affairs Committee the Liberals and Conservatives teamed up to block a motion to recognize the Sikh Genocide. They’ve known about this for months. They could have spent the time to listen to the concerns of the community, listening to the evidence, understanding why it is so important, listening to the evidence that clearly establishes it as a genocide and the definitions for genocide were met. Instead, they turned their backs on justice.”
Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal MP wrote on his platform X, “At the FAAE committee, Jagmeet Singh introduced a motion addressing the 1984 Sikh Genocide—a motion I fully supported. I’m deeply saddened that the debate was adjourned. I remain committed to honouring and advocating for the lives lost during this tragic chapter in Sikh history.”
World Sikh Organization while responding said, “Today in the Foreign Affairs Committee, Liberals and Conservatives blocked NDP Leader’s motion to recognize the Sikh Genocide suggesting the motion was not the right “way of working” to raise the issue. On its 40th anniversary, this refusal to hear evidence or voices from the Sikh community is deeply disappointing.”
