Four lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives have introduced a resolution to formally recognize and commemorate the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as a “genocide”.
The resolution, sponsored by Republican Congressman David Valadao, calls for official recognition of the riots that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as the “1984 Sikh Genocide” and demands that “all perpetrators, regardless of rank or status, to be brought to account”.
This initiative is backed by prominent Sikh organizations, including the Sikh Coalition, the American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the American Sikh Caucus Committee, and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. However, a similar measure introduced by Representative Valadao in October 2024 did not advance to a vote.
Congressman Valadao expressed, “Sadly, many Sikhs have been targeted for their religious beliefs throughout history, including during the 1984 genocide.” The resolution specifically accuses the Indian government, state institutions, and members of parliament of orchestrating these riots.
California Congressman Jim Costa, a co-sponsor, remarked, “As we mark the 40th anniversary of the Sikh Genocide, we remember a dark chapter in history that inflicted pain on Sikh families and communities. This is not just a distant tragedy—it hits home for us here in the San Joaquin Valley, where so many of our Sikh neighbors have shared their stories of loss, survival, and resilience. This resolution is more than a symbol — it’s a time to recognize this horrific time that our Sikh community experienced.”
Neither the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C. nor the Ministry of External Affairs has issued comments on the resolution.
While the U.S. House of Representatives has seen resolutions condemning discrimination against Sikh Americans in past decades, this marks a significant early effort to formally memorialize the events of 1984. Previous interventions by the U.S. Congress regarding this issue, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, had led to considerable bilateral tensions between the United States and India.
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