WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — 40 years after communal violence broke out against Sikhs in India after the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at the hands of her Sikh bodyguards, California Congressmen David Valadao and Jim Costa introduced a bipartisan resolution efforting to recognize the “Sikh Genocide of 1984.”
California plays host to the largest Sikh American population in the United States, mostly in the Central Valley. Valadao once served as the co-chairman of the Sikh American Congressional Caucus.
“Many Sikhs have been targeted for their religious beliefs throughout history, including during the 1984 genocide,” said Valadao. “The Central Valley is home to a vibrant Sikh community and I’m proud to stand with them in demanding recognition and accountability for this horrific event in their history.”
“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,” said Costa.
The resolution is also supported by California members Rep. Josh Harder, Rep. Vince Fong and Rep. John Duarte. Sikh advocacy groups from the American Sikh Caucus Committee, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Sikh Coalition, and United Sikhs lauded the resolution, stating it was a milestone in the fight for worldwide acknowledgment of the violence as a “genocide.”
The violence of 1984 is often termed as a pogrom. It was initiated with Operation Blue Star, when the Indian military entered the Golden Temple in Amritsar in June 1984 to extract Sikh militants who were using the shrine as a base in June 1984. Prime Minister Gandhi was killed in retaliation on October 31, 1984 by her Sikh bodyguards, leading to the deaths of thousands of Sikhs across India for days after her assassination.
