India on Friday rejected passage of a Private Members’ Motion in Ontario legislative Assembly that termed 1984 Sikh riots as a genocide. The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement termed the Motion as a misguided one that is based on a limited understanding of India, and its judicial process.
“We have noted the passage of a Private Members’ Motion in the legislative Assembly of Ontario on April 6. We reject this misguided Motion which is based on a limited understanding of India, its constitution, society, ethos, rule of law and the judicial process. Our views have been conveyed to the Government and political leadership in Canada,” MEA Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.
The private member motion by Harinder Malhi, a liberal member of provincial Parliament, read: “That, in
the opinion of this House... Should reaffirm our commitment to the values we cherish - justice, human rights and
fairness - and condemn all forms of communal violence, hatred, hostility, prejudice, racism and intolerance in
India and anywhere else in the world, including the 1984 Genocide perpetrated against the Sikhs throughout India,
and call on all sides to
embrace truth, justice and reconciliation.”