OTTAWA, Canada—Canadian Sikhs gathered at the Parliament Hill earlier today remember the victims of 1984 Indian Army invasion of the Darbar Sahib, commonly known as the Golden Temple in Punjab. In June 1984, over 30,000 Sikhs were killed following a wave of violence stemming from the Indian army’s assault 34 years ago..
Members of various Sikh organizations such as the Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar Canada, Sikhs for Justice, Ontario Gurdwaras Committee, Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwaras Council and the B.C. Sikh Council joined hands to organize a National gathering of the Canadian Sikh Community to pay tribute to the martyrs who laid their lives to protect the sanctity of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Bibi Pritam Kaur, renowned Sikh activist and wife of Shaheed Bhai Rashpal Singh, personal assistant to Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was the chief guest at the event. Her roaring speech led the Sikh sangat to resound echoes of the jakaras outside the Parliament Hill. She acquainted the attendees with continued atrocities against minorities in India.
“The Sikh diasporas that was fortunate enough to escape will never forget those who were systematically killed by Indian soldiers and organized mobs,” said Sukhminder Singh Hansra president of Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar Canada East (SADA Canada).
“While we honour and commemorate the victims, we will also be celebrating the rights and freedoms we enjoy as Canadians. There’s no way the Indian government would tolerate an event of this kind.” said Bhagat Singh Brar executive member of Ontario Gurdwaras Committee.
That will leave a mark