Sikh body criticises Justin Trudeau for not marking 1984 riots
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Trudeau issued a statement (on antiSikh riots) in 2014 before becoming the PM. However, no word has come from him after assuming the charge. MUKHBIR SINGH , World Sikh Organisation president
TORONTO:The World Sikh Organisation (WSO) has expressed disappointment over the “lack of commemoration” of the 1984 riots by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
It also levelled similar criticism against the premier of Ontario province, Doug Ford.
In a statement, WSO cited a statement by Trudeau in 2014, when he was leader of the Liberal Party: “As I said in Parliament this week, we must continue to call on the Indian government to pursue the truth, pursue justice for those who carry the scars of 1984, and pursue accountability for all people of India.
“It is imperative that burning questions surrounding 1984 be answered. Truth and reconciliation have strengthened Canada; they can be of great benefit to India too.”
WSO said that since “becoming Prime Minister in 2015, no subsequent statement has been issued”. Its president Mukhbir Singh said, “We fail to understand why Prime Minister Trudeau was able to issue a statement in 2014 but has not done so since becoming the PM.”
Pointing to the passage of a motion in the Ontario legislature describing the riots as “genocide”, he added, “It is disappointing that neither Premier Ford nor any member of his caucus issued a statement to mark this tragic event.” He described the silence as “deafening”. While Trudeau’s government and members of his ruling party have used the term riots, Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party didn’t hesitate in using “genocide” to describe the violence.