Toronto [Canada]: Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) Chandra Arya has voiced his opposition to a motion in the House of Commons attempting to classify the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as genocide. Arya stated that he was the only MP present to oppose the motion, effectively blocking its passage.
In a post on X, Arya explained, “Today, the Member of Parliament from Surrey-Newton attempted to have the Parliament declare the 1984 riots in India against Sikhs as a genocide. 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.”
Today, the Member of Parliament from Surrey-Newton attempted to have the Parliament declare the 1984 riots in India against Sikhs as a genocide.
— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) December 6, 2024
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… pic.twitter.com/wENlwUd234
Arya revealed that he faced immediate threats within the Parliament building for his opposition and warned of the potential for the motion to resurface. “The politically powerful Khalistani lobby will undoubtedly try again to push for Parliament to label the 1984 riots as genocide. There is no guarantee I will be in the House to block it the next time,” he said.
The MP emphasized the need for Hindu-Canadians to engage actively with their local MPs, urging them to oppose similar motions in the future. “I urge all Hindu-Canadians to act now. Reach out to your local Members of Parliament and secure their commitment to oppose this motion whenever it arises,” Arya added.
While condemning the tragic loss of lives in the 1984 riots following Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination, Arya argued that calling the riots genocide is “misleading and unjustified.” He stated, “Thousands of innocent Sikhs lost their lives in those horrific events, and we all condemn this brutality without reservation. However, labelling these tragic and dreadful riots as genocide is misleading and unjustified.”
Arya warned that such assertions could exacerbate tensions between Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada and fuel divisive agendas. He called for unity among Hindu-Canadians to safeguard their communities against what he termed an “anti-Hindu agenda.”
“Let us stand united against this anti-Hindu agenda and safeguard our communities,” Arya concluded, reiterating his commitment to ensuring harmony between communities and preserving their collective rights.