Amritsar (July 15, 2010): The Five Jathedars of the Takhats have declared (on July 14, 2010) that November 1984 killings of Sikhs in India, in which thousands of innocent Sikhs were killed across 18 states and more than 100 cities was a Genocide. According to Giyani Gurbachan Singh, Akal Takhat Jathedar, the targeted and planned killing of Sikhs and attacks on Gurdawaras in November 1984 was a direct attack on the Sikh religion itself.
According to Attorney Gurptawant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to Sikhs for Justice, a US based human rights advocacy group working to get the Sikh Genocide recognized globally, the declaration from Akal Takht is very significant because it brings finality for the Sikhs as to whether November 1984 killings were genocide or not.
In its directive, Akal Takht has also directed the Sikh community, Sikh organizations, Sikh media and other groups around the world to call November 1984 as Sikh Genocide and to support Sikhs for Justice in its efforts to get this Genocide recognized internationally.
The Directive issued by Jathedars, in Punjabi (translated in English), runs as follows:
26 years have passed, Sikhs were killed in thousands, hundreds of Gurudwara Sahibs and Holy Guru Granth Sahibs were desecrated by burning to ashes which in a way was a direct attack on Sikh religion.
The killing of Sikhs in November 1984 was named by some as “anti Sikh riots” and some called it Sikh massacre. However, the manner in which thousands of innocent Sikhs were killed in 18 States and 110 cities of the country through an organized and planned campaign, it was worse ever human rights violation one has ever seen and therefore it should be called as “Sikh Genocide”. If targeted killing of Sikhs everywhere is not a “Genocide” then what else was it? Shri Akal Takht Sahib has already identified this fact and has recognized these killings as “Sikh Genocide”.
Shri Akal Takht Sahib is directing all members of Sikhs community living around the world, Sikh organizations, media and other groups to call the killing of Sikhs in November 1984 as “Sikh Genocide”.
Through the tireless efforts of US based international human rights advocacy group and its legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the true facts and figures about November 1984 Sikh Genocide have come out. At international level awareness among the people regarding this issue is being spread which is an invaluable service.
It was due to the efforts of Sikhs For Justice that a petition to declare the November 1984 killings as Sikh Genocide has been filed in the Parliament of Canada which is an important and gigantic accomplishment.
Sikhs for justice is an organization recognized by Shri Akal Takht and is fully supported by the Shri Akal Takht in its efforts to seek justice for victims of November 1984 Sikh Genocide and to have the killings of Sikhs recognized as “Sikh Genocide”.
Every Sikh is directed to support this organization in seeking justice for the victims of Sikh Genocide and get convictions for the culprits of Sikh Genocide who have been evading justice so far.
Download: Directive Issued by Sri Akal Takhat Sahib on Sikh Genocide (November 1984) (.pdf version).