(Ottawa, ON: 23 Maghar, Nanakshahi 556 | December 9, 2024 CE) – Sikhs across the country are urging all Members of Parliament to unanimously recognize November 1984 Anti-Sikh violence as a genocide. Two attempts by Parliamentarians last week demonstrate the need for a collaborative approach to successfully achieve recognition in spite of Indian opposition and foreign interference.
Both Liberal and Conservative members of Canada’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs voted together to adjourn debate on a motion by NDP Leader, Jagmeet Singh, that could have unanimously called on the House of Commons to recognize the genocide. Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal subsequently rose in the House to propose this motion by unanimous consent which was aggressively opposed by Nepean MP, Chandra Arya, who later took to social media to cast aspersions on the significance of recognition and reconciliation.
MP Arya’s statements represent a broader and more troubling strategy: the manufacturing and weaponization of a narrative that any criticism of India’s actions is inherently sectarian or somehow anti-Hindu. These talking points form part of India’s disinformation campaign that have been documented by the Government of Canada and Foreign Interference Commission. India seeks to discredit legitimate scrutiny of Indian state violence and foreign interference by painting political disagreement with the Indian state as sectarian conflict, which is patently false.
MP Arya’s actions align with India’s objectives to stifle debate, mislead the public, and shift focus away from the real issues of Indian state-sanctioned violence and interference in Canadian institutions. It is a disingenuous tactic that exploits religious sensitivities and harmful prejudices to restrict debate and accountability, allowing foreign interference to persist unchecked.
Mayor Patrick Brown’s testimony before the Standing Committee on Public Safety similarly highlighted India’s efforts to intimidate and pressure him to retract support for recognizing India’s genocide against Sikhs in Ontario’s Provincial Parliament. This occurred directly through Indian diplomats, as well as proxy groups who seek to further India’s interest while obfuscating the link back to officials.
Between November 1-10, thousands of Sikhs across India faced an onslaught of targeted, systematic, and organized violence by state actors leveraging government resources with the support of law enforcement.
The Sikh Federation (Canada) calls upon all parties to work together through a formal vote on the floor of the House of Commons to formally recognize India's anti-Sikh violence in November 1984 as a genocide. All parties must demonstrate that Indian foreign interference or disinformation campaigns from individuals like Chandra Arya will not dictate the decisions made in Parliament.
For media inquiries: please contact spokesperson, Moninder Singh, at info@sikhfederation.ca.
