White House Condemns 1984 Sikh Genocide and Human Rights Violations in India

WASHINGTON, DC, USA—The White House has responded to the petition signed by over 30,000 individuals asking the US Government to “Recognize the Sikh Genocide of 1984”.  The petition was launched last year in November and gained popularity through social media channels.  Sikh volunteers all over the country also put in efforts to get the petition signed at Gurdwaras.  Although at this point, the US Government has not publically recognized the carnage as a genocide, it has however condemned the brutal killings of Sikh men and women post 1984 in India.

The announcement by the White House is a major blow to India, which boasts of being the largest democracy in the World.  Human Rights violations in India have been condemned by various Human Rights Organizations in the World, including the Amnesty International and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

The following response was provided by the White House –

Thank you for expressing your views. During and after the 1984 violence, the United States monitored and publicly reported on the grave human rights violations that occurred and the atrocities committed against members of the Sikh community. The State Department’s Official Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, for example, covered the violence and its aftermath in detail, with sections on political killings, disappearances, denial of fair public trials, negative effects on freedom of religion, and the government’s response to civil society organizations investigating allegations of human rights violations.

We continue to condemn — and more importantly, to work against — violence directed at people based on their religious affiliation. U.S. Government efforts to protect the rights and freedoms of all people have long been a feature of our foreign policy. Our diplomats regularly report on and speak out against violence against minorities around the world.

Congress passed the International Religious Freedom Act (.pdf) in 1998, which affirms U.S. commitment to religious freedom, enshrined both in the United States Constitution and in numerous international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

In accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act, the President appoints an Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom to head the Office of International Religious Freedom at the State Department and to advise the Secretary of State and the President on issues related to international religious freedom. The Ambassador is also responsible for providing information related to religious freedom to be included in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (Human Rights Reports) and preparing a separate Annual Report on International Religious Freedom[International Religious Freedom Report (IRFR).] The IRFR describes the status of religious freedom in every country, highlights trends and violations, and details the actions that the United States government is taking to improve freedom of religion.

6 COMMENTS

  1. The Obama regime has not recognized it as a genocide when it is a clear cut case of genocide. This shows they are allying itself with the Indian government congress party whose criminal politicians are literally getting away with mass murder and rape against the Sikh community. There needs to be strong protest against the Obama regime statement as it does not specially make clear that Sikhs had suffered as a minority by the Hindu majority who have all the political power. And without that recognition no progress can be made in getting justice.

  2. Good to hear this. Just wondering is it just an attempt to make sikh population in USA feel that they are with us or just a drama. My question is will they recognize freedom strugle in Kashmir and North east India. will they impose any ban on trade and financial aid which is used to deploy defence personel to kill freedom fighters and innocent people. We all know the answer. If we want a seprate home land. Start moving to Australia in huge number and increase our population so that we can create a example of khalsa raj (pure democracy) or else just wait and see how many more innocents are killed on the name of terrorism. Till the time we are minority we will suffer.

  3. US says 1984 riots not a genocide
    Washington, April 2
    The Obama Administration today refused to declare the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as genocide, but noted that grave human rights violations had occurred.

    The White House response in this regard came months after a section of the Sikh community in the US launched an online petition campaign urging the Obama Administration to recognize the 1984 riots as genocide.

    It was AMRITDHARI Zail Singh commander-in chief of Indian armed Forces, had power to order as per Indian Constitution, who allowed killing of SIKHS. We are suppressing facts and beating the false drums. Amritdhari must be blamed for 1984 crimes and continue cruelty on Sikh Religion and Communities Worldwide. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindrawale (Solder of Guru Gobind Singh Ji) sacrificed himself with other dedicated Sikhs.
    After 1984 many million Sikhs are benefiting from lost lives of 1984 and generation will enjoy perks of mercy with political asylum to various countries with false oaths. Instead of financial and moral support, most of Sikhs came out of India after 1984; political asylum’s Sikhs are beggars, thieves, crooks, smugglers and thugs. Is it proud or shame?

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here