Proclamation
Saka Nakodar Day
February 4, 2025
Whereas, on February 4, 1986, four unarmed and peaceful Sikh students, named Ravinder Singh, Baldhir Singh, Jhilman Singh, and Harminder Singh were killed by State Police in Punjab, India, in an unprovoked firing, while participating in protest against the desecration of Sikh scripture “Sri Guru Granth Sahib” considered by all Sikhs to be the final, supreme and living Guru after the lineage of 10 Sikh Gurus; and Whereas, the state government constituted a Commission of Judicial Inquiry headed by a renowned jurist on this incident of extra-judicial killings. The Justice Gurnam Singh Commission of Inquiry submitted its report to the state government on October 31, 1986, but the government failed to place and discuss the report, along with the mandatory Action Taken Report, in the state assembly within six months of submission; and Whereas, the state obscured the relevant parts of the Judicial Commission Inquiry report and took no action on the report and not even a single perpetrator has been brought to justice to date; victims' families have been fighting for truth, justice, accountability, and closure for over 39 years; and Whereas, this incident has now also received international attention as Dr. Iqtidar Cheema, Member of United Nations Global Steering Committee of OSAPG, has raised it on various international forums; and Whereas, H.Res.908 - Recognizing February 4th as 'Saka Nakodar Day' was introduced by Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19] on 4 February 2022, and it was cosponsored by Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-21], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3] in the 117th US Congress. H. Res. 93 - Recognizing February 4th as 'Saka Nakodar Day' was introduced in the California State Assembly by Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains, co-written by Assemblymembers Ash Kalra, Alex Lee, and Liz Ortega on June 13, 2024, and passed unanimously, officially declaring February 4, 2024, and each year thereafter as 'Saka Nakodar Day'; and Now, Therefore, I, Gary Singh, Mayor of the City of Manteca, on behalf of City Council, stand in solidarity and empathy with the Sikh families of the victims of the Nakodar incident in their pursuit of justice. I do hereby proclaim February 4, 2025, as Saka Nakodar Day.
DATE: February 4, 2025
______________________________
Mayor Gary Singh
ATTACHMENT 1
Mayor Singh • Vice Mayor Halford • Councilmember Breitenbucher • Councilmember Lackey • Councilmember Morowit