The Government of Canada must recognize the 1984 Anti-Sikh Violence as Genocide

As Sikhs continue to mark the 40th anniversary of the Theeja Ghallughara, Sikh Federation (Canada) calls upon the Government of Canada to formally recognize the anti-Sikh violence of November 1984 in India as a genocide. Between November 1-10, thousands of Sikhs across India faced an onslaught of targeted, systematic, and organized violence. State actors, leveraging government resources, led the massacres, while law enforcement either failed to protect Sikh citizens or actively participated in these atrocities.

This violence meets the criteria established by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 260, commonly known as the "Genocide Convention," which defines genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. The actions against Sikhs in 1984 align with this definition. India’s own Nanavati Commission Report and several Indian courts have documented evidence of organized killings, revealing the active involvement of politicians, police officials, and influential community leaders in inciting, supporting, and perpetuating the violence.

Despite years of advocacy and testimony by survivors and human rights groups, formal acknowledgement of this grave crime as genocide remains elusive. In Canada, home to a thriving Sikh community and thousands of survivors, we have consistently advocated for a recognition that acknowledges the atrocities committed and moves towards justice for the survivors, their families, and future generations. Recognition as genocide would reaffirm Canada’s commitment to human rights, a stance Canada has taken on the international stage by recognizing genocides from other parts of the world.

We call on Canada to take the following actions:

1. Formally recognize the organized violence against Sikhs in November 1984 as genocide under international law by passing a formal resolution in the House of Commons.
2. Acknowledge and support survivors and victims’ families in their pursuit of justice, encouraging measures for accountability and transparency.
3. Collaborate with international partners to monitor and press for justice in the face of human rights abuses, both past and ongoing, in India.
4. Urge the Government of India to take immediate and effective action to bring those responsible to justice and prevent the further persecution of religious minorities.

By formally acknowledging the events of November 1984 as genocide, the Government of Canada will join the growing bodies that stand with the Sikh community by supporting the continued healing from these atrocities.

The time to recognize this genocide is long overdue, and we urge the Government of Canada to act.

Supporting Resources for Reference

●      United Nations Genocide Convention: https://www.un.org/en/genocide-prevention/SA-prevention-genocide/UN-resolutions

●      Amnesty International,  Human Rights Watch Reports on the 1984 Anti-Sikh Violence, and ENSAAF’s publication, Twenty Years of Impunity

●      Ontario Legislative Assembly Bill 177, Sikh Genocide Education Month Act, 2017

●      U.S. House Resolution 754, Recognizing the 1984 Anti-Sikh Violence in India as Genocide

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