VICTORIA, BC — Mandeep Dhaliwal, MLA for Surrey North, has given official notice to introduce a motion (M 213) in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly calling on the province to formally recognize the 1984 anti-Sikh violence in India as a genocide.
The motion explicitly acknowledges the state-sponsored violence committed against Sikhs across India in 1984. It highlights the devastating impact of the mass killings, targeted brutality, and the widespread destruction of homes, businesses, and gurdwaras, while also recognizing the lasting intergenerational trauma carried by survivors and their families.
“This motion is about recognition, remembrance, and standing with a community that continues to carry the pain and trauma of 1984,” Dhaliwal stated on Wednesday (20 May).
“British Columbia is home to a vibrant Sikh community that has contributed immensely to the social, cultural, economic, and civic life of our province. Their history, their loss, and their voices deserve to be acknowledged with dignity and respect” he said.
According to the Notice of Motions released for Thursday, May 21, 2026 the proposed text asks the House to honour the memory of those who were killed, as well as the survivors and families whose lives were permanently altered, with resilience and dignity.
Furthermore, the motion states that British Columbia recognizes the critical importance of education, remembrance, and vigilance in confronting anti-Sikh hate, religious persecution, genocide denial, and all forms of targeted violence.
⊕ ਬੀ.ਸੀ. ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਵਿੱਚ 1984 ਦੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਕਤਲੇਆਮ ਨੂੰ ‘ਨਸਲਕੁਸ਼ੀ’ ਵਜੋਂ ਮਾਨਤਾ ਦੇਣ ਲਈ ਮਤਾ ਪੇਸ਼
“In communities across British Columbia, Sikh families have spent decades ensuring the stories of 1984 are never forgotten,” Dhaliwal added. “This is about ensuring future generations understand what happened and reaffirming our commitment to confronting hatred, persecution, and violence wherever it occurs.”
If successful, British Columbia would join other Canadian jurisdictions in this formal acknowledgment. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario has previously passed a motion formally recognizing the events of 1984 as a Sikh genocide, setting a significant precedent for human rights advocacy in Canada. It remains to be seen how the motion will be received on the floor of the BC Legislature in the coming days.
