[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 103 (Tuesday, June 13, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REMEMBERING THE SIKH GENOCIDE OF 1984

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOSH HARDER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 13, 2023

  Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and 
mourn the thousands of innocent Sikh lives that were stolen over the 
course of the Sikh Genocide. Thirty-nine years after the onset of the 
Indian government's military operation to decimate the holy city of 
Amritsar, the scars of genocide remain ever present in the Sikh 
community across the globe. Yet, even in the face of numerous 
tribulations and outright hate, the Sikh community continues to rise 
above and uphold their principles of humility, compassion, and 
generosity.
  The Sikh Genocide began in June of 1984 with Operation Blue Star, a 
military operation targeting the Harmandir Sahib, also known as The 
Golden Temple Complex, lasting ten days. For days, innocent worshippers 
that were celebrating a Sikh religious holiday were trapped inside the 
gurdwara. Deprived of food and water, deprived of their right to 
worship, and deprived of their basic human rights. Thousands of 
innocent Sikh worshippers were murdered in Operation Blue Star. Today, 
the bullet holes scarring the Golden Temple Complex serve as a heart 
wrenching visual, forever reminding all who visit of the atrocities 
that occurred.
  Tragically, Operation Blue Star wasn't the end of this genocide, but 
only the beginning. The horrendous military operation was immediately 
followed by a sharp uptick in human rights violations targeting 
innocent Sikhs across India. Over 40 other gurdwaras were attacked 
across the Punjab province. And the attacks on innocent Sikhs persisted 
for seven years.
  We cannot forget the thousands of innocent people who were 
persecuted. We follow the lead of the Sikh community, who now 
commemorate these 10 days by holding special prayer services in honor 
of the innocent lives which were lost. I offer a moment of silence to 
honor the innocent people harmed over the course of the Sikh Genocide. 
May we never forget the atrocities that occurred.

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