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http://sikhissue.com/labour-party-dishonor-gurus-defame-sikhi-slander-gurdwaras-and-misrepresent-sikhs/ In March 2010, the then Labour Government introduced ‘caste’ as a form of race in the Equalities Act. It had commissioned a Government funded ‘independent’ body called National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) to do a background report. The report was blasphemous, inaccurate and clearly misrepresents the Sikh religion, its people and its institutions. The NIESR case study examples, the alleged incidents of caste discrimination harassment are predominantly perpetrated by Sikhs in places of work, worship, education and other areas suggesting “Almost all Sikhs will discriminate, both British-born and immigrants” The NIESR report maligns Gurdwaras and Sikhi. It says that in some Gurdwaras (Midlands) members of the congregation do not take parshad from Granthis of lower castes! The report also says that in Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, utensils touched by lower caste Sikhs are immediately washed (suggesting practice of purity). A child was refused a place at Guru Nanak Khalsa School because the family attended Ravidassia temple It says that many Gurdwaras are caste based with members of lower castes made unwelcome. NIESR’s research is clearly hearsay based. It refused to visit places such as Southall and Gurdwaras who are accused. Its research was quoted by Lords and MPs to support the legislation but dismissed by Conservative Government. Key Facts The consultation kept out major Sikh and Hindu organisations and was stage managed. This is the first social legislation that has been enacted in UK before research and appropriate consultation. It is a legislation which admits to being unclear about the meaning of the word being legislated on! Experts and MPs admit that they do not know what ‘caste’ is. But they defined it with an offensive statement in 2010 It was rushed through in 2010 just two months before the general election by the Labour Party as if it was an emergency legislation. NIESR’s research is hearsay based. It refused to visit places such as Southall and Gurdwaras who are accused. Its research was quoted by Lords and MPs but dismissed by Conservative Government. The research was done by 7 experts of whom 6 have been on the payroll of those lobbying for legislation for nearly 20 years! The consultation kept out major Sikh and Hindu organisations and was stage managed. In 2005, one of the Labour MPs said, ‘We have to recognise that one of the tenets of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, was to get rid of caste-based discrimination. He has not succeeded yet.’ WHO IS BEHIND THIS After going into background we found the real reason this legislation was brought ‘urgently’ and without consultation was to outflank any opposition. It is directed at the 1950 Schedule Caste Act of India which excludes Christians and Muslims from 30% reservation across many sectors. This affected the ‘conversion’ numbers of Christian. Since 1950 the Church has been campaigning to include Christians into the Act. By introducing ‘caste’ definition to include Christians in UK, the EU will adopt it. EU is obliged to take it to UN. The UN will insist India treat Christians as part of Schedule Act. This will enable Church to restart conversions! WHAT WE SUGGEST The preceding statements, the commissioned reports and the definition of ‘caste’ used in the legislation is highly offensive to Sikhi, Sikhs and above all to the Gurus. This legislation needs to be repealed. Parliament must drop the explanatory notes implying Sikhs have ‘ritual’ purity practices and Government GEO office withdraw NIESR report based on false statements maligning Gurdwaras. The Labour Party and Liberal Democrats must give an undertaking to drop the Bill which is divisive and unnecessary. The Conservative Party has clearly stated “We remain concerned that there is insufficient evidence of caste based discrimination to require specific legislation. We also have concerns that incorporating caste into domestic law – even in the context of anti-discrimination – may send out the wrong signal that caste is somehow becoming a permanent feature of British society.” Helen Grant – Equalities Minister