Canadian Parliament rejects motion to declare 1984 Sikh riots as 'genocide'

THE Canadian Parliament has rejected the motion to declare the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as genocide following stiff resistance from lawmakers like Chandra Arya, who claimed that he was threatened inside the parliament building for opposing the motion, which he described as being influenced by a "politically powerful Khalistani lobby."

- HARPREET BAJWA

Arya urged the Hindu-Canadians to contact their local Members of Parliament and seek their commitment to oppose this motion if it arises again. The motion was introduced by New Democratic Party MP Sukh Dhaliwal before the House of Commons standing committee on foreign affairs and international development.

Arya, the Indian origin MP, who opposed the move, stated that he was the only MP present in the House of Commons to oppose the motion thus blocking its passage.