A petition with around 27,000 signatures, demanding recognition of the November 1984 Sikh Genocide, will go before the Obama administration on December 15. Current US Government Policy says that a petition with at least 25000 signatures warrants an official response.
This petition urges the Obama administration to fulfill its obligation under Article 1 of the UN Convention on Genocide by recognizing the November 1984 as “Sikh Genocide.”
1984 Violence Against Sikhs
The Sikh Genocide petition contends that during November 1984, leaders of India’s Congress Party organized and perpetrated violence against the Sikh community, resulting in more than 30,000 being killed. The systematic violence against Sikhs has always been portrayed as Anti Sikh Riots.
The petition launched for signatures on November 15 by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) gained the support of “Voices for Freedom” (VFF), another Sikh rights group, as well as unanimous support from Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) across the United States. It has already been signed by more than 27,000 individuals.
Pointing to the recent strong response by the Obama Administration on human rights violations in Sri Lanka, evoked through a similar petition, attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to the Sikhs for Justice group, said “the Sikh Genocide petition will expose those who organized the November 1984 genocidal attacks and the policy of impunity consistently practiced by the Congress (I).”
Charges Raised In US Federal Court
The Sikh rights group aims to prosecute those involved in the 1984 Sikh Genocide in the international courts. In a case filed by the rights group and victims of 1984, Congress (I) and Minister Kamal Nath are already facing Genocide charges in US Federal Court.
Previously, the rights group has filed petitions to the Parliaments of Canada and Australia, for recognition of the November 1984 killing of Sikhs as “Genocide.” The United States, Canada and Australia are signatories to the UN Convention against Genocide. They also have domestic laws declaring intentional attack on a religious minority as “Genocide.”
