Canadian Parliament rejects NDP's motion to declare 1984 anti-Sikh riots as genocide

PTC News Desk: Canadian Parliament has dismissed a motion to declare 1984 anti-Sikh riots as genocide. The motion moved by National Democratic Party's leader Jagmeet Singh before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development failed to be passed by Parliament committee. 

However, the committee, chaired by ruling Liberal Party MP Ali Ehsassi, moved to adjourn debate in the matter, with nine members voting for that adjournment and two against.

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.”

The Indian-origin Member of Parliament Chandra Arya opposed the motion asserting that the motion is influenced by "politically powerful Khalistani lobby".

"He sought unanimous consent from all Members in the House of Commons to pass his motion. I was the only Member present in the House to say NO, and my single objection was enough to prevent this motion from being approved," Arya said.

MP Arya further said that he was threatened inside the Parliament building for opposing the motion and urged Hindu Canadians to see assitance from local MPs and commit to oppose such motions. 

" The 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India, which followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, were undeniably barbaric. Thousands of innocent Sikhs lost their lives in those horrific events, and we all condemn this brutality without reservation,’’ he said.