Mr. Speaker, as long as I can remember, the month of June has symbolized a blemish on the Sikh-Indian identity, an identity that many Canadian Sikhs take pride in.
In June 1984, this identity fell victim to the tanks and bullets of the Indian government of the day. The attacks targeted the heart of Sikhism, the holy site of Harmandir Sahib, known as the Golden Temple. Within minutes, Sikhs became outsiders inside their own country. The events that occurred in 1984 led to thousands of Sikh men, women, and children being tortured, raped, and murdered based on their Sikh identity.
We continue to seek justice for the victims and also demand an explanation as to why and how Sikhs were targeted by organized mobs.
I stand with the Sikh community and all other communities that seek justice for the violation of their human rights.