Historic victory, says Ontario Sikh leader

Varinder Singh

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Tribune News Service

Toronto, April 7

While India has rejected the motion passed by the Ontario Assembly recognising the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and Operation Bluestar as “genocide” and discarded it as “misguided”, the Punjabi diaspora, particularly Sikhs, is elated even as they argued that the move should have been initiated much earlier.

The motion — a brainchild of what was called as the “Powerful Punjabi Caucus” in the power circles of Ontario — was moved by Brampton-Springdale Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) Harinder Malhi on Thursday. The motion was supported by a majority of 35 members, while five members opposed it after a day-long debate.

MPPs Harinder Malhi, Vick Dhillon and Harinder Takhar have joined hands to push the motion even as a section of the Opposition has been describing the Liberal Party move as a “last-ditch effort” to save its “political existence” and its “image” ahead of the elections.

The three MPPs were said to have been working on the motion and lobbying for its success for a couple of months.

Malhi said it was a “historic victory” not only for the Punjabis, but for the Indians and South Asians based in Canada. “Every life is precious and no one can snatch the right to live from the innocent people. We have been waiting for this moment for years.”

During the discussion on the motion, Malhi said it is the duty of the Ontario Assembly to condemn all genres of communal violence, hostility, prejudices, intolerance and hatred in India and rest of the world. That is the least we can do. So, it is the need of the hour to consider the 1984 killings as genocide perpetrated against Sikhs. We also recognise the social justice human rights and reconciliation in India.

Vicky Dhillon, a former Brampton councillor, said, “It (the motion) is ok, but they should have also brought a motion exempting Sikhs from wearing helmets in the province of Ontario.” Asked what could be the effect of the Ontario Assembly act in Canada, he said other provinces, particularly Punjabi-dominated, could follow the suit.