NDP statement on the anniversary of the 1984 Sikh Genocide

Canada’s NDP Leader Avi Lewis made the following statement on the anniversary of the 1984 Golden Temple invasion:

This month, New Democrats join Sikh communities in Canada and around the world in remembering the victims and survivors of the tragic events of June 1984, including the invasion of the Darbar Sahib Complex and dozens of other Gurdwaras in Punjab, by the Indian Government.

We extend our sympathies to the families who lost loved ones during the state-sanctioned attacks, and to all those who were victims of the brutal repression that followed, including forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture, and secret and illegal mass state cremations. The impact of this violence continues to be felt decades later by survivors and the families of victims, many of whom continue to live with trauma and intergenerational trauma.

Today, this is exacerbated by India’s transnational repression including the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and death threats to over a dozen Canadians, including 2 children and former NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh who was warned of imminent threats to his life.

New Democrats remember the painful legacy of these events. We echo the calls of human rights advocates for a full accounting of what occurred, and we vow to renew our commitment to human rights, accountability, and the pursuit of justice.

We will never forget 1984.