[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S5220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE 38TH ANNIVERSARY OF ANTI-SIKH VIOLENCE IN INDIA

  Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, as a proud member of the American Sikh 
Congressional Caucus, I would like to join my Sikh friends in 
Pennsylvania's Sikh community and Sikhs around the world in recognizing 
the 38th anniversary of the November 1984 anti-Sikh violence in India.
  For those of you who are not familiar, Sikhism traces its nearly 600-
year history to the Punjab region of India. With nearly 30 million 
followers globally and 700,000 here in the U.S., Sikhism is one of the 
world's major religions.
  Historically, Sikhs have showcased a commitment to serving 
individuals from all religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds--
demonstrating their generosity and deep sense of community. During the 
COVID-19 pandemic, Sikh communities across Pennsylvania and the United 
States came together to deliver groceries, masks, and other supplies to 
tens of thousands of families in need no matter their race, gender, 
religion, or creed. In my many years serving the Commonwealth, I have 
personally witnessed the spirit of Sikhs and have come to better 
understand the Sikh tradition that is founded on equality, respect, and 
peace. It is clear that the presence and contributions of Sikh 
communities have thoroughly enriched their neighborhoods across the 
country.
  1984 marks one of the darkest years in modern Indian history. The 
world watched as several violent incidents broke out among ethnic 
groups in India, with several notably targeting the Sikh community. 
Today we are here to remember the tragedy that commenced on November 1, 
1984, following decades of ethnic tension between Sikhs in the Punjab 
province and the central Indian Government. As so often in such cases, 
the official estimates likely do not tell the whole story, but it is 
estimated that over 30,000 Sikh men, women, and children were 
deliberately targeted, raped, slaughtered, and displaced by mobs across 
India.
  To prevent future human rights abuses, we must recognize their past 
forms. We must remember the atrocities committed against Sikhs so that 
those responsible may be held accountable and that this type of tragedy 
is not repeated against the Sikh community or other communities across 
the globe.

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