A motion moved by the New Democratic Party (NDP) to recognize the violence against Sikhs in India in 1984 as a “genocide” was not passed by a parliamentary committee in Canada. The motion, introduced by NDP leader Jagmeet Singh before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, was voted down after the committee, chaired by Liberal Party MP Ali Ehsassi, decided to adjourn the debate. Nine members voted in favor of the adjournment, with only two voting against it.
Singh’s Call for Recognition and Justice
Singh presented the motion to the committee on June 19, urging the House of Commons to officially recognize the 1984 violence as a genocide. He also called on the Indian government to take measures to bring those responsible for the violence to justice. Singh linked the motion to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s October allegations, which tied Indian diplomats and officials in Canada to violent crimes.
During the debate, Singh emphasized the importance of showing “solidarity” with the victims of the violence that followed the assassination of then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984.
Canada’s Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Rob Oliphant, described the 1984 violence as “horrendous” and “tragic,” acknowledging its significance to Canada due to the sizable Sikh population in the country. However, Oliphant raised procedural concerns about the motion’s adoption and suggested exploring alternative ways to address the issue.
Following the committee’s decision, Singh expressed his disappointment on social media, stating, “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. Instead, they turned their backs on justice.”
NDP Campaign for Official Recognition
This motion was part of the NDP’s broader campaign launched earlier this year, which aims to secure official recognition of the 1984 Sikh Genocide in the Canadian Parliament, marking the 40th anniversary of the tragedy. Singh had also addressed the issue during the Vaisakhi parade in Surrey, British Columbia, in April, emphasizing that “Sikh genocide should be recognised at the Federal level.”
In 2010, Liberal Party MP Sukh Dhaliwal had moved a similar motion in the House, which also failed to pass. On Thursday, Dhaliwal, who is still a sitting MP of the ruling party, expressed his sadness over the adjournment of the debate. He stated, “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.”
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