During the 1984 anti-Sikh riots over 20,000 Sikhs were killed according to a BBC report, 26 years later the current government are still uncertain if this episode should be termed ‘genocide’

The five Sikh Jathedars for the Akal Takhat the political throne of the Sikhs are due to
convene an extra-ordinary meeting of the Sikh Jathedars, lead by Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbhachan Singh.

Over 20,000 members of the Sikh community were killed in anti-Sikh riots in Delhi in November, 1984 in the aftermath of the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards at her residence in New Delhi.

The move by the Sikh clerics to term the riots as a 'genocide' is said to have taken shape following a move by Canadian MP of Indian-origin Sukh Dhaliwal's motion in their parliament, seeking that the riots be declared as genocide by the Canadian government.

The Akal Takht’s five Jathedars would discuss the issue and then ask the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to take up the matter with the central and Punjab governments.

It will be proposed  the SGPC to ensure that for all future references to the tragic events of 1984, the word genocide be used instead of riot, both in parliament and the Punjab assembly.

Welcoming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's apology for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots during his recent Canada visit, the Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbhachan Singh.,  insisted that those behind the massacre be punished before Sikhs put the events of 1984 behind them.

Manmohan Singh, India's first Sikh on the highest executive post, had, during the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Toronto, urged the Sikh community to put the events of 1984 behind them and move on, but has accused Sikh of  being ‘militants

“As a community, we feel estranged from India because justice has been denied.  We are hurt further when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh comes to Canada for the G20 and brands us as "separatists" and "militants".  To be a Sikh in Canada does not mean you are a radical or a terrorist.  According to P.M. Singh” says Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, from Justice for Sikhs.