The California State Assembly has taken a historic step by passing a resolution condemning the November 1984 anti-Sikh violence in India and urging the United States Congress to recognize and condemn it as genocide. The bill was introduced by Assembly member Jasmeet Kaur Bains, the first-ever elected Sikh member of the State Assembly on March 22, 2023. It was co-sponsored by Assembly member Carlos Villapudua, a Sikh sympathizer.
The resolution passed with a unanimous vote, with only one member, Ash Kalra, voting in favor. This decision was praised by Pritpal Singh, coordinator of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, and other US Sikh bodies, who expressed gratitude towards Bains and Villapudua for introducing and passing the resolution.
The Sikh Caucus Committee also thanked Dr. Iktidar Karamat Cheema, a member of the UN Global Steering Committee, for his consultations and for raising awareness of these issues at the UN level. This resolution is a significant step forward in recognizing and condemning the violence against the Sikh community, and it is hoped that other states and countries will follow suit.
