Connecticut, USA: Indian may have been denying the fact of ‘Sikh Genocide of 1984’ but the foreign authorities continue to acknowledge this fact and recognise the 1984 atrocities on Sikhs as ‘genocide’.
The State of Connecticut in USA has recently passed bill to recognise the fact of Sikh genocide of 1984 and declared November 1st every year as “Sikh Genocide Remembrance Day”.
Documents accessed by the Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) show that Bill 489 Section New 86 has been proposed by Connecticut State Senator Cathy Osten and Representative Kevin Ryan to declare November 1st as “Sikh Genocide Remembrance Day” in memory of all the victims who were killed during genocidal massacres targeting Sikhs throughout India.
This is evergreen bill and every year Governor will declare this day at official level in Capital of Connecticut.
A public hearing was Held in Connecticut State Capital to endorse this bill in which Sikh Community Representative all over East Coast participated and submitted their testimonies and shared their experiences with Committee.
Swaranjit Singh Khalsa who is Member Of Norwich Commission of City Plan, Member World Sikh Parliament and also Spokesman for Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast was invited by senator and give testimony in front of audience and official committee.
In his testimony Swaranjit Singh Khalsa said “This is black spot on history of world as elected officials who take oath to protect citizens of country were the one who ordered and funded this genocide”.
“Sikh Community has been living in United States for more than 100 years and it has been more than 40 years they are living in Connecticut and we have large population who was affected by this genocide so it’s our duty to ease up their pain by standing on their side”, he added.
“Also by this bill Sikh Community will get exposure which they need so people get to know that Sikhs are from Punjab, Sikhism is distinct religion and why demand of separate Sikh state, called Khalistan, is justifiable”, added he.
The committee asked questions to Swaranjit Singh Khalsa but were satisfied by his response. State senator district 19th Cathy Osten also added that Sikh Community is very active in Connecticut politically as well. ‘In order to bring justice we should recognise this day’.
On this occasion Himmat Singh Member World Sikh Parliament & Coordinator Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast, Guruninder Singh Dhaliwal was also present and gave their views on declaring this day as Sikh Genocide Remembrance Day.
This bill has now become law in Connecticut as it was first passed by committee then by House and Senate with majority and now finally it was signed by Governor in June 2018. Notably, all 36 Senators of the state had voted in favour of this bill.
The fact of Sikh Genocide 1984 was first recognised at state level by Ontario Provincial Parliament and Connecticut has become first state of United States of America (USA) to recognise the Sikh Genocide 1984. Activists and members of proposed international Sikh body called World Sikh Parliament held a press conference in New York to make announcement regarding the law passed in Connecticut to declare Nov. 1 as Sikh Genocide Remembrance Day.