Toronto (Canada): Chandra Arya, a Member of Parliament in Canada, has expressed his strong opposition to a motion in Parliament seeking to classify the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as genocide. He cautioned that the “politically influential Khalistani lobby” is likely to attempt to advance this motion again.
On Friday, Arya noted that he was the only MP present in the House of Commons to oppose the motion, which allowed him to block its passage. He revealed that he has faced threats and pressure for speaking out on behalf of the Hindu-Canadian community and reiterated that the Khalistani lobby would likely try to bring the motion forward again.
In a post on X, Arya stated, “Today, the MP from Surrey-Newton sought to have Parliament declare the 1984 riots against Sikhs as genocide and asked for unanimous consent from all Members in the House of Commons to pass his motion. I was the only Member present to say NO, and my objection was enough to prevent the motion from being approved.”
He added, “Immediately after this, I was threatened inside the Parliament building for my stance. There have been numerous attempts, both inside and outside Parliament, to silence me regarding the concerns of Hindu-Canadians. While I take pride in having stopped this divisive agenda today, we must remain vigilant. Next time, we may not be as fortunate.”
Arya emphasized that the Khalistani lobby is bound to make another attempt to push for the motion. He urged Hindu-Canadians to actively engage with their MPs to ensure the motion is blocked in the future.
“I encourage all Hindu-Canadians to act now. Contact your local Members of Parliament and secure their commitment to oppose this motion whenever it arises. The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, were undoubtedly horrific,” he stated.
While condemning the loss of lives during the riots, Arya argued that labeling them as genocide is “misleading and unjustified.” He said, “Thousands of innocent Sikhs lost their lives in those tragic events, and we condemn this brutality without reservation. However, calling these dreadful riots genocide is misleading and unjustified.”
He warned that such claims could fuel anti-Hindu sentiments and create divisions between the Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada. “We must not allow these divisive forces to succeed in undermining harmony. The best way to prevent Parliament from declaring the 1984 riots as genocide is to ensure that every MP—or at least a significant number—stands up and says NO when unanimous consent is sought.”
In closing, Arya called on Hindu-Canadians to reach out to their MPs and firmly request their opposition to this Khalistani-driven narrative, urging unity against the perceived anti-Hindu agenda to protect their communities.