JagtarSinghKhalsa

See negative comments by Modi supporters in various Indian newspapers http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Europe/British-Sikhs-to-oppose-any-Modi-visit-to-UK/Article1-1114727.aspx http://www.firstpost.com/world/british-sikhs-to-oppose-proposed-modi-visit-to-uk-1070759.html

British Sikhs to oppose any Narendra Modi visit to UK By PTI | 29 Aug, 2013, 09.06PM IST LONDON: British Sikhs have expressed opposition to any proposed visit by Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to the UK. The Sikh Federation (UK) has joined Muslim groups like the Council of Indian Muslims UK (CIM-UK) in their boycott following an invitation for Modi to visit Britain by some Indian groups of the country's two main political parties earlier this month. "We welcome the fact that the UK government has not invited Modi, but oppose the tiny minority of pro-Indian Labour and Conservative MPs led by Barry Gardiner, the Labour MP from Brent North, and Sailesh Vara, the Conservative MP from North West Cambridgeshire, who have recently sent Modi invitations and want him to address UK MPs," said Amrik Singh, chair of the Sikh Federation (UK). The federation, a non-governmental organisation registered as a political party in the UK, claims that Modi has shown "animosity and hatred" towards minorities in India, including Sikhs, Christians and Muslims. "Sikhs in the UK will lobby UK MPs who return to Parliament in early September and the UK government to oppose Modi's visit, not only because of his involvement in the violence in Gujarat in 2002 but because of his recent discrimination of Sikh farmers in Kutch district by trying to have them evicted," Singh said. "It demonstrates his policy to make Gujarat, and eventually India, a Hindu state with no place for minorities," he added. The move comes after CIM-UK in an open letter addressed to the UK government ministers and political party leaders expressed "utter disgust" over an invitation for the chairman of the BJP's national election committee. The UK government, like the US, had distanced itself from Modi in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots until late last year when the British high commissioner to India, James Bevan, made diplomatic overtures towards the Gujarat chief minister.

They Had A Dream Too: 50 Years Later, Britain’s Forgotten Bus Boycott Which Changed Racial Discrimination Laws International Business Times By Palash Ghosh on August 28 2013 10:37 AM Fifty years after the epic “March on Washington” placed civil rights and racial discrimination on top of the national agenda in the United States, a similar, but much smaller and largely forgotten, event took place at the same time 3,600 miles away in Bristol, England. In 1963, as Britons began facing the reality of large numbers of non-white immigrants from the former colonies of the Empire living amongst them, rejection and opposition to these blacks and Asian people took many forms. In the southwestern English city of Bristol, for example, ethnic minorities had been ‘unofficially’ banned from working as city bus drivers and conductors, in addition to restrictions on where they could live, shop and go to school. BBC reported on the experiences of a black man from Jamaica named Guy Bailey who, as an 18-year-old in April 1963, applied for a job with the state-owned Bristol Omnibus Company and was summarily rejected, despite a newspaper advertisement that boasted of plentiful available jobs at the firm. "There's no point having an interview," the [white] manager told young Bailey. "We don't employ black people." But, at the time such open discrimination was legal in many parts of the United Kingdom – even the trade unions representing bus employees supported this prejudicial policy. Ironically, the post-war labor shortage in the Britain had encouraged the mass migration of peoples from the Caribbean and South Asia to toil in various jobs in the “Mother Country,” particularly in the National Health Service and London Transport. As such, Bristol’s outright prohibition on non-white bus drivers was something of an anomaly, given the common sight of black and Asian bus employees and conductors in cities like London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. Bailey was one of about 3,000 blacks from the Caribbean who had settled in Bristol since 1948, with full rights granted by British citizenship. But due to rampant discrimination and fear of violence, blacks in Bristol concentrated in the deprived St. Paul’s neighborhood. Blacks were often the target of attacks on the streets by white hooligans and were banned from entering certain pubs, restaurants and shops. Nonetheless, Bailey’s confrontation with such raw, naked bigotry triggered a campaign against the bus company by both the local Afro-Caribbean community and some white activists. They decided to boycott the city’s buses – in a somewhat similar vein to the famous 1955-1956 Rosa Parks-inspired bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama led by Martin Luther King. A group of black residents of St. Paul’s formed an organization called the West Indian Development Council, which included a mixed-race, British-born civil rights activist named Paul Stephenson, who was explicitly inspired by the Montgomery bus boycott that ultimately changed the laws in Alabama. As early as 1962, the local paper in Bristol published a series of articles delineating the “color bar” practiced by the bus company. The general manager of Bristol Omnibus, Ian Patey, told the paper that his company employed a number of non-whites, but mostly in the garages where the public would never see them. Patey later told a city government committee that his white employees would not accept black colleagues and would likely resign en masse. They also feared that a wider labor pool would erode their already meager incomes. Also, given the fact that many bus conductors were (white) females, there were fears that the presence of black bus drivers would cause great discomfort to the lady employees. "The ordinary workers took their cue from the Bristol Omnibus Company," Stephenson noted. "The unions were more concerned about their economic situation. They thought the black workers were [of] lower status and would bring about wage decreases -- it was economic racism. Some of them were racist - they didn't want to work with black people. But it was the management, it was the [bristol] city council that was ultimately responsible." Stephenson, outraged by the unjust rejection of Bailey’s job application, called for a boycott of the bus service. The local newspaper supported his campaign, as did university students, some trade union members and even ordinary white citizens. A Bristol Labour MP named Tony Benn also joined the boycott, as did the future Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The media compared the situation with Bristol’s buses with the widespread segregation in the American South, thereby causing great embarrassment to local officials. In Bristol, as in Montgomery, the boycott worked – by September 1963, Bristol buses finally hired black and Asian drivers. Ironically, on Aug 28, 1963, the very same day as the March on Washington, Patey announced that Bristol Omnibus would integrate its workforce. (However, some white bus employees did indeed quit their jobs in protest as he had predicted). The very first non-white bus conductor in Bristol was Raghbir Singh, an Indian-born Sikh. The success of the bristol boycott might have been more extraoridanry than the Montgomery boycott from a few years prior, given that blacks represented such a small portion of Bristol's overall population. Indeed, the bus company did not necessarily even need black passengers to run smoothly -- in stark contrast to Montgomery which relied heavily on black customers. The Bristol campaign also likely played a role in the first laws enacted in Britain to outlaw racial discrimination, namely the Race Relations Act of 1966 which prohibited discrimination on the "grounds of color, race, or ethnic or national origins" in public places. By 1968, the law was expanded to include housing and employment. provisions.

UNITED NATIONS ASKED TO PROBE KILLINGS OF SIKHS IN PUNJAB 6 July 2013 Khalsa Human Rights, the human rights wing of the Sikh Federation (UK), has written to Professor Christof Heyn, the UN Special Rapporteur on extra judicial, summary or arbitrary executions following the confession last week by Sub-Inspector Surjit Singh of the atrocities committed by him and security forces in Punjab in the early 1990s. Surjit Singh who has gone into hiding since his confession has claimed to have killed 83 Sikhs in false encounters on the orders of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Paramjit Singh Gill. He has stated that he did not know if the young men were guilty or innocent, and they were killed unlawfully: ‘The guilty were killed, and innocent [young men] were also brought to me to be killed. I didn’t know whether they were guilty or innocent, but I was told to kill them regardless.’ In a subsequent interview he also revealed that senior officials threatened that he would meet the same end as human rights defender Jaswant Singh Khalra, who was illegally detained and murdered by Punjab Police for investigating secret mass cremations. He stated that senior officials told him: ‘If you open your mouth, then like Jaswant Singh Khalra who was investigating the 25,000 missing bodies, and went missing himself—the same will happen to you.’ A Khalsa Human Rights spokesman said: ‘We understand human rights activist Kirpal Singh Randhawa has said that the Punjab and Haryana High Court would be approached to obtain a CBI investigation into the matter.’ ‘However, we do not think India can conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the atrocities that will result in the identification and prosecution of responsible police officers.’ ‘We have therefore written to the UN Special Rapporteur who has recently criticised India to ensure international pressure is exerted on India.’ Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) added: ‘From what Surijit Singh has described these are clear cases of extrajudicial and arbitrary executions that are illegal and without due regard to the law or legal procedure as defined by the United Nations.’ ‘Khalsa Human Rights are waiting for further information from lawyers and human rights activists about the 83 Sikh killed before submitting the Model Questionnaire developed by the Special Rapporteur as there is no need to exhaust domestic remedies in India before taking the matter to the United Nations.’ Jaspal Singh Co-ordinator, Khalsa Human Rights

http://www.sikhsiyasat.net/2013/06/27/resolutions-passed-by-sikhs-from-across-europe-at-the-25-june-conference-in-the-european-parliament/

ਯੂਰਪੀਅਨ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਵਿਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਯੂ. ਕੇ. ਵੱਲੋਂ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਕਾਨਫ਼ਰੰਸ ਲੰਡਨ, 25 ਜੂਨ (ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੱਧਨੀ ਕਲਾਂ)-ਯੂਰਪੀਅਨ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਵਿਚ ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚ ਹੋ ਰਹੇ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਉਲੰਘਣਾ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਆ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਿਲਾਂ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਇਕ ਕਾਨਫ਼ਰੰਸ ਯੂਰਪੀਅਨ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਵਿਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਯੂ. ਕੇ. ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕਰਵਾਈ ਗਈ, ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਯੂਰਪ ਦੇ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਜੱਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਨੁਮਾਇੰਦਿਆਂ ਨੇ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਲਿਆ | ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਜੂਨ 1984 ਅਤੇ ਨਵੰਬਰ 1984 ਦੇ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਕਤਲੇਆਮ ਦਾ ਮੁੱਦਾ ਉਠਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਫ਼ਾਂਸੀ ਦੀ ਸਜ਼ਾ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਵਿਚਾਰ-ਵਟਾਂਦਰਾ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਪ੍ਰੋ: ਦਵਿੰਦਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੁੱਲਰ ਅਤੇ ਭਾਈ ਬਲਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਜੋਆਣਾ ਦੇ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਸਥਾਰ ਸਹਿਤ ਬਿਆਨਿਆ ਗਿਆ | ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਗੱਲ ਉਭਾਰੀ ਗਈ ਕਿ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਦੇ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਡੇ ਲੋਕਤੰਤਰ ਵਜੋਂ ਜਾਣੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਭਾਰਤ ਦੇ ਰਾਜਸੀ ਆਗੂਆਂ |ਤੇ ਕਈ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਪਰਾਧਿਕ ਕੇਸ ਚੱਲ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ, ਜਦ ਕਿ ਭਾਰਤ ਦਾ ਨਿਆਂਇਕ ਸਿਸਟਮ ਬੁਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਫੇਲ੍ਹ ਹੋ ਚੁੱਕਾ ਹੈ | ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਯੂਰਪੀਅਨ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਪਹਿਚਾਣ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਹੋ ਰਹੇ ਵਿਤਕਰੇ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਵੀ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਬੁਲਾਰਿਆ ਨੇ ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਬੁਲੰਦ ਕੀਤੀ | ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਭਾਈ ਦਬਿੰਦਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ, ਭਾਈ ਸੁਖਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਭਾਈ ਜਸਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਭਾਈ ਜਸਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ, ਯੂ. ਕੇ. ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸ਼ਿਰਕਤ ਕੀਤੀ, ਜਦ ਕਿ ਇਟਲੀ ਤੋਂ ਭਾਈ ਤਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਸਿੱਖ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਇਟਲੀ, ਭਾਈ ਹਰਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਾਦੂਵਾਲ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਧਰਮ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਇਟਲੀ, ਹੌਲੈਂਡ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਸੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ, ਬੀਬਾ ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਅਤੇ ਬੀਬਾ ਕੇਵਲ ਕੌਰ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਹੋਏ, ਜਦ ਕਿ ਯੂਰਪੀਅਨ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਬਿਲ ਨਿਊਟਨ ਡਨ, ਸਟਿਨਰੁਕ, ਬਰਿੰਡ ਲਾਂਜ਼, ਬਿਰਗਰਿਟ ਸਪਿਲ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਹੋਏ | ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ 1984 ਨੂੰ ਸਿੱਖ ਨਸਲਕੁਸ਼ੀ ਵਜੋਂ ਮਾਨਤਾ ਦੇਣ, ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਫ਼ਾਂਸੀ ਦੀ ਸਜ਼ਾ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਕਰਨ, ਪ੍ਰੋ: ਦਵਿੰਦਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੁੱਲਰ ਦੀ ਰਿਹਾਈ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ, ਯੂਰਪ ਅਤੇ ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਸਮਝੌਤਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ, ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਮ ਦੀ ਆਜ਼ਾਦੀ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਸਮੇਤ ਪੰਜ ਮਤੇ ਪਾਸ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ |

CONFERENCE IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT EXPOSES CONTINUED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN INDIA Sikhs from across Europe pass resolutions in the European Parliament calling for the: 1984 killing of Sikhs to be recognised as Genocide Abolition of the Death Penalty in India Immediate release of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar An end to negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and India due to continued human rights abuses in India Right of Sikhs to self-determination and to have their own independent Sikh homeland 26 June 2013 The Sikh Federation (UK) having previously organised numerous lobbies and meetings organised the first ever Sikh conference at the European Parliament on Tuesday 25 June. The subject chosen was Human Rights Abuses and the Death Penalty in India. Bill Newton Dunn a Liberal Democrat UK Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the East Midlands and a member of the India Delegation hosted the 3-hour conference and welcomed Sikhs from a number of countries across Europe – UK, Italy, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The conference was chaired throughout by Gurmel Singh of the Sikh Federation (UK). The conference was divided into four plenary sessions, but even before proceedings started MEPs such as Nigel Farage the leader of the UK Independence Party came to meet UK Sikhs and listen to their concerns. Others that met UK Sikhs in advance were Sajjad Karim a Conservative MEP from the North West who also joined Sikhs later in the conference and Glenis Willmott a Labour MEP from the East Midlands. Glenis was crucial in helping secure the right for Amritdhari Sikhs to wear the Kirpan in the European Parliament. This right was first fully exercised on mass in January 2013 and repeated yesterday with even larger numbers of Amritdhari Sikhs. The first session was about the June 1984 Sikh genocide and mass human rights abuses in Punjab by the Indian authorities and the November 1984 massacre of innocent Sikhs. The speakers for the first session were Jaspal Singh and Jaswinder Singh from the UK. A number of video clips were used throughout the conference to visually highlight different issues covered. Marina Yannakoudakis a Conservative MEP from London expressed a specific interest in learning more about the plight of Sikhs. The main speaker for the second session was Sukhvinder Singh from the UK. This session was about the death penalty in India, including the case of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and the reasons for Balwant Singh Rajoana’s actions. Several MEPs later spoke about their opposition to the death penalty. Sajjad Karim a Conservative MEP from the North West spoke about his opposition to the death penalty despite surviving the Taj Hotel attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also said he was heavily involved in negotiations on behalf of the EU with India being the rapporteur on the free trade agreement between the EU and India and specifically requested evidence against Kamal Nath as continues to have direct dealings with him. The third session was about on-going human rights abuses of the Sikhs with reference to the illegal arrest and torture of political opponents Kulbir Singh Barapind and Daljit Singh Bittu; the unprovoked police murder of 18-year old Jaspal Singh in March 2012; the torture and police murder of 24-year old Shaminder Singh Shera and 17-year old Veer Singh in January 2011 and January 2012 respectively; and the death in police custody of Sohanjit Singh and Kulwant Singh and in March 2011 and February 2012 respectively. Jaspal Singh from the UK spoke about each of these cases and Dabinderjit Singh reiterated their present significance alongside the death penalty cases. The session was concluded by Maninder Singh from the UK who spoke about the True face of Indian democracy: Indian politicians facing criminal charges and failures in India’s judicial system. Numerous other MEPs contributed during the conference, including Edward McMillan-Scott the Vice President of the European Parliament for Democracy and Human Rights and Liberal Democrat MEP from Yorkshire and the Humber who later tweeted ‘Interesting Sikh Federation (UK) meeting in EU Parliament today to discuss rights of Sikhs in India and abolition of the death penalty’. Other MEPs that spoke included Jean Lambert a Green Party MEP from London and the Chair of the South Asia Delegation; Michael Cashman, a Labour MEP from the West Midlands; David Martin, a Labour MEP from Scotland; and Anthea McIntyre, a Conservative MEP from the West Midlands. Two MEPs from Italy also took part, Francesco De Angelis and Patrizia Toia. Around 15-20 assistants of MEPs attended the conference and Sikhs from the UK also met separately with MEPs such as Richard Howitt a Labour MEP from the Eastern region who was unable to attend the conference. Dabinderjit Singh from the UK presented the fourth and final session about justice delayed is justice denied and the right to self-determination as Sikhs have entered the 30th year since the June 1984 Indian army attack on the Golden Temple Complex. The session was concluded by Harjinder Singh speaking about identity discrimination in Belgium and the denial of Sikh human rights and difficulties in different European countries, such as France, Austria and Italy. This was also linked to the issue of Sikh self-determination and how a Sikh homeland would be of benefit to Sikhs throughout the Diaspora. The conference concluded with the reading of the five conference resolutions produced below. Sikhs present then passed these resolutions in the Sikh traditional manner of five loud Jakaaray of ‘Jo Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal’ - ‘Who so declares, Truth is Eternal, is blessed!’ Meaning - a declaration of allegiance to the Guru, and ultimately aligning oneself with the public struggle for truth and justice. These resolutions will now be translated into a number of different languages and taken forward at a national level by Sikhs with their MEPs. Gurjeet Singh National Press Secretary Sikh Federation (UK) Resolutions passed by Sikhs from across Europe at the Conference on Human Rights Abuses and the Death Penalty in India in the European Parliament on 25 June 2013 Resolution 1 – Recognising the 1984 Sikh Genocide Having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the Geneva Convention (1949), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) recognises the events of June 1984, the mass human rights violations against the Sikhs in Punjab by the Indian authorities and the massacre of innocent Sikhs in November 1984 collectively as the 1984 Sikh Genocide and reiterates its concern and dismay as we enter the 30th anniversary of these events that India has failed to prosecute police officers, politicians and others responsible for this genocide. Resolution 2 – Abolish the death penalty in India Having regard to the European Parliament's Human Rights annual resolutions condemns recent executions by India after an eight year hiatus that run counter to the regional and global trends to abolish capital punishment; recognises the UN Special Rapporteur on extra judicial, summary or arbitrary executions conclusion on India that the death penalty is being imposed for a growing number of crimes; calls upon the Indian Government to put forward an immediate moratorium on the death penalty; reconsider the May 2012 recommendations of United Nations Human Rights Council related to the abolition of the death penalty and calls on the 27 Member States of the European Union, in particular the two permanent members of the UN Security Council, to collectively raise the need for India to abolish the death penalty at the earliest opportunity at the United Nations General Assembly. Resolution 3 – Release Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar Having regard to the European Parliament's July 2011 Resolution on India and the death sentence on Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty, the EU-India Dialogue on Human Rights, Amnesty International calls on 12 April 2013 for the Professor’s death sentence not to be carried out, to remove him from death row immediately and retry his case in proceedings that comply with international fair trial standards; observes the inconsistent approach by the Supreme Court of India who in the case of Mahendra Nath Das on 1 May 2013 granted clemency on the grounds of inordinate delay as his mercy petition against his execution was kept pending by the President, but two weeks earlier rejected a similar petition filed by Professor Bhullar who waited for eight years for a decision by the President; reiterates its concern that recent independent medical reports commissioned by the Indian authorities regarding the Professor’s mental and physical health suggest that on compassionate and moral grounds his death sentence should be commuted; further urges India to release the Professor without further delay given he has spent more than 18 years in prison following a controversial conviction where M B Shah, the Presiding Judge in the Supreme Court had acquitted the Professor based on the evidence presented; recognises this has become more pressing given the unprecedented move by the special public prosecutor, senior advocate Anoop G Chaudhari, who had appeared against the Professor in the Supreme Court in 2002 to state in April 2013 that a judicial error had been made in awarding the death sentence against the Professor and S S Virk, the former Director General of Punjab Police stating in May 2013 that the Professor was not guilty of what he was being accused of and he deserves justice as he and his family have been wronged. Resolution 4 – Continued human rights violations in India and the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and India Having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union is deeply concerned about the continued human rights violations in India against the minority Sikh community; calls on the Indian Government to prosecute police officers responsible for torture, disproportionate and excessive use of force, illegal detention and extra-judicial killings of Sikhs, calls on the international community to prosecute those in India responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity and calls on the European Commission to end the negotiations with the Government of India for the creation of the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and India. Resolution 5 – Unquestionable right of Sikhs to self-determination and to have their own independent Sikh homeland Having regard to Articles 1, 55 and 56 of the Charter of the United Nations and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966); objects to India’s continued reservation to the right to self-determination and applauds the objections raised by France, Germany and the Netherlands against India’s reservation to reiterate self-determination applies to all people; stresses India has also lost the right to argue the limitation of territorial integrity with regards to Sikhs as the Indian State when it enacted its first Constitution in 1950 it failed to deliver any safeguards or political rights for the Sikhs as a people or nation and has oppressed the Sikhs and other minorities through gross human rights violations; recognises the unquestionable right of Sikhs to self-determination and to have their own independent Sikh homeland; stresses that peaceful and non-violent means are the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Sikhs and the Indian State, calls for direct talks between the International Coalition for a Sikh Homeland and the Indian State; and calls on the Council, the Commission and EU Member States to support and deliver assistance to Sikh institutions and development projects with the aim of protecting and strengthening the Sikh population.

The Sikh Channel team recorded the conference and it will be shown in two or three parts on Sky 840.

Resolutions passed by Sikhs from across Europe today at the Conference on Human Rights Abuses and the Death Penalty in India in the European Parliament Resolution 1 – Recognising the 1984 Sikh Genocide Having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the Geneva Convention (1949), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) recognises the events of June 1984, the mass human rights violations against the Sikhs in Punjab by the Indian authorities and the massacre of innocent Sikhs in November 1984 collectively as the 1984 Sikh Genocide and reiterates its concern and dismay as we enter the 30th anniversary of these events that India has failed to prosecute police officers, politicians and others responsible for this genocide. Resolution 2 – Abolish the death penalty in India Having regard to the European Parliament's Human Rights annual resolutions condemns recent executions by India after an eight year hiatus that run counter to the regional and global trends to abolish capital punishment; recognises the UN Special Rapporteur on extra judicial, summary or arbitrary executions conclusion on India that the death penalty is being imposed for a growing number of crimes; calls upon the Indian Government to put forward an immediate moratorium on the death penalty; reconsider the May 2012 recommendations of United Nations Human Rights Council related to the abolition of the death penalty and calls on the 27 Member States of the European Union, in particular the two permanent members of the UN Security Council, to collectively raise the need for India to abolish the death penalty at the earliest opportunity at the United Nations General Assembly. Resolution 3 – Release Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar Having regard to the European Parliament's July 2011 Resolution on India and the death sentence on Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty, the EU-India Dialogue on Human Rights, Amnesty International calls on 12 April 2013 for the Professor’s death sentence not to be carried out, to remove him from death row immediately and retry his case in proceedings that comply with international fair trial standards; observes the inconsistent approach by the Supreme Court of India who in the case of Mahendra Nath Das on 1 May 2013 granted clemency on the grounds of inordinate delay as his mercy petition against his execution was kept pending by the President, but two weeks earlier rejected a similar petition filed by Professor Bhullar who waited for eight years for a decision by the President; reiterates its concern that recent independent medical reports commissioned by the Indian authorities regarding the Professor’s mental and physical health suggest that on compassionate and moral grounds his death sentence should be commuted; further urges India to release the Professor without further delay given he has spent more than 18 years in prison following a controversial conviction where M B Shah, the Presiding Judge in the Supreme Court had acquitted the Professor based on the evidence presented; recognises this has become more pressing given the unprecedented move by the special public prosecutor, senior advocate Anoop G Chaudhari, who had appeared against the Professor in the Supreme Court in 2002 to state in April 2013 that a judicial error had been made in awarding the death sentence against the Professor and S S Virk, the former Director General of Punjab Police stating in May 2013 that the Professor was not guilty of what he was being accused of and he deserves justice as he and his family have been wronged. Resolution 4 – Continued human rights violations in India and the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and India Having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union is deeply concerned about the continued human rights violations in India against the minority Sikh community; calls on the Indian Government to prosecute police officers responsible for torture, disproportionate and excessive use of force, illegal detention and extra-judicial killings of Sikhs, calls on the international community to prosecute those in India responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity and calls on the European Commission to end the negotiations with the Government of India for the creation of the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and India. Resolution 5 – Unquestionable right of Sikhs to self-determination and to have their own independent Sikh homeland Having regard to Articles 1, 55 and 56 of the Charter of the United Nations and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966); objects to India’s continued reservation to the right to self-determination and applauds the objections raised by France, Germany and the Netherlands against India’s reservation to reiterate self-determination applies to all people; stresses India has also lost the right to argue the limitation of territorial integrity with regards to Sikhs as the Indian State when it enacted its first Constitution in 1950 it failed to deliver any safeguards or political rights for the Sikhs as a people or nation and has oppressed the Sikhs and other minorities through gross human rights violations; recognises the unquestionable right of Sikhs to self-determination and to have their own independent Sikh homeland; stresses that peaceful and non-violent means are the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Sikhs and the Indian State, calls for direct talks between the International Coalition for a Sikh Homeland and the Indian State; and calls on the Council, the Commission and EU Member States to support and deliver assistance to Sikh institutions and development projects with the aim of protecting and strengthening the Sikh population.

Following the programme on Sangat TV last night about the European Parliament Conference in Brussels on Human Rights Abuses and the Death Penalty in India on Tuesday 25 June (12-3pm) many have requested the agenda for the conference. The agenda is as follows: Introduction Plenary Session 1 •June 1984 Sikh genocide and mass human rights abuses in Punjab by Indian authorities •November 1984 massacre of innocent Sikhs Plenary Session 2 •Death Penalty in India (including Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and Balwant Singh Rajoana) Plenary Session 3 •On-going human rights abuses of the Sikhs •True face of Indian democracy - Indian politicians facing criminal charges and failures in India’s judicial system Plenary Session 4 •Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: Self determination for the Sikhs •Identity discrimination and denial of human rights in different European countries Conclusion and conference resolutions

Canadian Sikh Coalition will be responding.

If you wish to attend the Conference on human rights abuses and the death penalty in India on Tuesday 25 June from 12 noon to 3pm in the European Parliament in Brussels, please send your name and contact details to the Sikh Federation (UK) on sikhfederationuk@yahoo.co.uk as soon as possible. Also please note the change of room for the conference. All Amritdhari Sikhs will be allowed to wear their Kirpans in the European Parliament a right we established in our last lobby in the European Parliament in January 2013. The Sikh Federation (UK) has had many confirmations from Sikhs from around a dozen EU countries. Sikh TV channels will be covering the conference where around 15-20 MEPs are expected to speak. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SikhFederationUK

A scroll is now appearing on the Sikh Channel regarding this conference. Has anyone seen the scroll on Sangat TV?

If you wish to attend this conference on Tuesday 25 June, please send your name and contact details to the Sikh Federation (UK) as soon as possible. Also please note the change of room for the conference.

ਸਿੱਖ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਯੂ. ਕੇ. ਵੱਲੋਂ ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਮੌਤ ਦੀ ਸਜ਼ਾ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਕਾਨਫ਼ਰੰਸ 25 ਜੂਨ ਨੂੰ ਲੰਡਨ, 15 ਜੂਨ (ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੱਧਨੀ ਕਲਾਂ)-ਸਿੱਖ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਯੂ. ਕੇ. ਵੱਲੋਂ 25 ਜੂਨ ਨੁੰ ਯੂਰਪੀਅਨ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਵਿਚ ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਫਾਂਸੀ ਦੀ ਸਜ਼ਾ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਇਕ ਕਾਨਫ਼ਰੰਸ ਕਰਵਾਈ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਯੂਰਪੀਅਨ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਸੰਗਠਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਨੁਮਾਇੰਦੇ ਅਤੇ ਯੂਰਪ ਭਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਆਗੂ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਹੋਣਗੇ | ਇਸ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਭਾਈ ਅਮਰੀਕ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਯੂਰਪੀਅਨ ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਬਰਸਲਜ਼ ਦੀ ਪੌਲ ਹੈਨਰੀ ਸਪਾਕ ਬਿਲਡਿੰਗ ਵਿਖੇ ਹੋਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਇਹ ਕਾਨਫ਼ਰੰਸ ਬਾਅਦ ਦੁਪਹਿਰ 12 ਵਜੇ ਤੋਂ 3 ਵਜੇ ਤੱਕ ਚੱਲੇਗੀ | ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਘੱਟ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਲਈ ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਚ ਹੋਰ ਅਤੇ ਬਹੁ-ਗਿਣਤੀ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਿਆਂ ਲਈ ਹੋਰ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਦੀ ਤਾਜ਼ਾ ਮਿਸਾਲ ਸੱਜਣ ਕੁਮਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਨਵੰਬਰ 1984 ਦੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਦੰਗਿਆਂ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਬਰੀ ਕਰਨਾ ਹੈ http://beta.ajitjalandhar.com/news/20130616/6/186693.cms#186693

Please see below:

http://www.kirpan.com/2013/06/14/european-parliament-conference-on-the-death-penalty-human-rights-abuses-in-india-on-25-june/ http://www.punjaboutlook.com/conference-in-brussels-on-the-death-penalty-and-human-rights-abuses-in-india/ http://www.sikhsiyasat.net/2013/06/14/european-parliament-conference-on-the-death-penalty-human-rights-abuses-in-india-on-25-june/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=european-parliament-conference-on-the-death-penalty-human-rights-abuses-in-india-on-25-june

CONFERENCE IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN BRUSSELS ON THE DEATH PENALTY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN INDIA 13 June 2013 The Sikh Federation (UK) has confirmed it has arranged a conference on Tuesday 25 June 2013 in the European Parliament in Brussels on the Death Penalty and Human Rights abuses in India. Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said: ‘The conference is taking place in the Paul Henri Spaak Building in the European Parliament in Brussels. Politicians from across Europe have a crucial role to play in acting as a catalyst for change in the Indian judiciary's use of the death penalty and ensuring human rights are protected.’ ‘The case of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar is expected to feature prominently as well as the inability of the Indian judicial system to deliver justice for Sikhs highlighted by the failure to successfully indict Sajjan Kumar.’ ‘Sikhs from around a dozen European countries, including the UK, Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Greece and Switzerland were invited at the end of May to encourage their MEPs to participate in the conference and to attend themselves.’ Attendance at the three-hour conference from 12 noon to 3pm is by invitation only due to an overall capacity of around 130. The Sikh Federation (UK) has reminded Sikhs across Europe to email their MEPs and encourage them to take part in the conference and meet with Sikhs from their respective countries at the conference. MEPs that are members of the Indian delegation and human rights sub-committee have also been invited to the conference. Anyone wishing to attend the conference is encouraged to email the Sikh Federation (UK) as soon as possible on sikhfederationuk@yahoo.co.uk. Further details are available by visiting the Sikh Federation (UK) Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SikhFederationUK Gurjeet Singh National Press Secretary Sikh Federation (UK)

Plan is for Hyde Park to T Square next year - although some are already causing issues by direct approaches and saying booked without licence, public liability insurance, stewarding plan, risk assessment, TMO. T Square was booked for whole of June. Police were at one point suggesting 12 weeks (3 months later). June event was critical in prime location - although not ideal.

The Remembrance March and Freedom Rally is getting bigger each year - despite some showing less or no interest. What lessons should we take from this . . . Initiially individuals like Parminder Singh Bal and Jaswant Singh Thekedar (and those linked to them) started to boycott this event and have not been attending for several years. Certain Gurdwaras e.g. Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall have at times only partially supported the event, but have had to change their minds due to pressure from the Sangat. In the last two years the Sikh Channel has shown limited interest - shown very few adverts, Promos, did not cover the event live this year etc. Those that are a bit cleverer have been asking what is the purpose of the event, what does it achieve . . . and failed to understand the sentiments of many of those who attend. In the first 24 hours after the Remembrance March and Freedom Rally that took place on Sunday 9 June many have been commenting on the excellent turnout, the need to have the rally in Trafalgar Square with the large screen, to carefully control those speaking from the stage and what they speak about. Many would prefer fewer speakers and more in English. But there has also been specific comments on those who have pushed the event in previous years, but decided NOT to attend the event this year. There may be many reasons why some could not attend, but youngsters in particular have been commenting on groups claiming to represent the youth or who work with the youth who not only did not attend but also FAILED to raise awareness through their own web sites, Facebook pages etc. Please raise your concerns with them directly. Next year is the 30th anniversary of June 1984 and Novemnber 1984 - we should put aside any differences and show a united effort in making the events linked to 1984 a success. We should put the ISSUE before PERSONALITIES.

This is also a historic picture. http://www.demotix.com/photo/2136866/sikhs-remember-june-1984-massacres-national-rally-london

Generator caught fire at the start of the rally in the Millbank. This meant the first hour was lost with no sound system. Some Singhs improvised and got generator and sound working. Just to let the Sangat know - Manvir Singh (from Slough) who had hired and transported the generator asked those at 10 Downing Street (Kesri Lehar group) if their generator could be used - they flatly refused!

See photos on: https://www.facebook.com/SikhFederationUK#!/SikhFederationUK

Police at the end confirmed numbers were 15-20% higher than last year. Route was quite good. Good to see Panj Pyare at Whitehall, 10 Downing Street, Houses of Parliament etc. Would be great if some could post photographs. Last year the police said numbers were up by 30% on the previous year. The turnout was amazing - considering event was organised late (last 2/3 weeks), Sikh Channel did very little to promote the event. Could have had many more banners and placards, more megaphones needed and those to make speeches on route to tell non-Sikhs what was happening and what we were remembering. Entrance to stage should have been better controlled and more co-ordinated speeches in English. Meeting to take place in early July to plan for 30th anniversary. Everyone should start to think of ideas to make start (hopefully in Hyde Park), march (through London) and freedom rally at the end a huge success.

http://www.punjabiinholland.com/news/970-uk-sikhs-prepare-for-annual-march-commemorating-bluestar-anniversary-.aspx