California Legislature urges US Congress to declare anti-Sikh riots genocide

Washington: The California State Assembly has passed a resolution urging the US Congress to formally recognise and condemn the 1984 anti-Sikh violence in India as genocide.

The resolution was moved on March 22 by Jasmeet Kaur Bains, a member of the legislative assembly, who is the first elected Sikh member of the state assembly, and passed unanimously by the state assembly. It was supported by Assembly member Carlos Villapadua. Ash Kalra, the lone Hindu member of the assembly, also voted in favour.

The resolution said the ‘Widow Colony’ in New Delhi is still home to Sikh women who were attacked, raped, tortured and forced to witness the mutilation, burning and murder of their families, and who are still demanding justice against the perpetrators.