Liberal MP Chandra Arya (Nepean) has alleged that he was threatened by a fellow Liberal MP after he opposed a motion in the House of Commons, sparking an extraordinary protest and calls for action.“On the way out of this chamber, the member threatened that I would be f—d up,” Arya told the House, naming Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey Newton, B.C.) as the individual who made the threat.Arya also claimed another member of the Liberal caucus “aggressively accosted” him in the lobby, though he declined to name the second individual or answer further questions.“I feel that as a member of Parliament, I should be able to express my opinion and my views freely in the House,” Arya said. “I should not feel threatened by any words or actions of my fellow members.”The confrontation occurred Friday during routine House proceedings. Dhaliwal had introduced a motion proposing that the House recognize the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as genocide.“I rise today to address the Sikh genocide,” said Dhaliwal. “There have been consultations among the parties, and I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That the House acknowledge and recognize crimes committed against Sikhs within India in 1984 constituted a genocide.”Arya’s solitary dissent, delivered with a shouted “No!”, was enough to prevent the motion from passing. He said he faced immediate backlash upon leaving the chamber.“I was the only member present in the House to say no,” Arya explained in a subsequent statement. “My single objection was enough to prevent this motion from being approved. Immediately after this, I was threatened inside the Parliament building for standing up and saying no. There have been several attempts both within the Parliament and outside to stop me from freely and publicly voicing the concerns of Hindu Canadians.”Arya defended his decision, describing the motion as divisive and asserting that it mischaracterized the tragic events of 1984.“The 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India, which followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, were undeniably barbaric,” Arya said. “Thousands of Hindus and Sikhs lost their lives in these horrific events. We all condemn this brutality without reservation. However, labeling these tragic and dreadful riots as genocide is misleading and unjustified.”Arya also alleged that the “politically powerful Khalistani lobby” was behind the motion and urged Hindu Canadians to oppose any future attempts to pass similar resolutions.“While I am proud in having stopped this divisive agenda from succeeding today, we cannot afford to be complacent,” Arya said. “Next time, we may not be as fortunate. I urge all Hindu Canadians to act now. Reach out to your local members of Parliament and secure their commitment to oppose this motion whenever it arises.”Dhaliwal did not comment when asked about Arya’s allegations and has not contradicted his colleague’s account in the House.
