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ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ, ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਿਹ India getting desperate in countering impact of Sikh Manifesto: Sikh Federation UK London, UK: The Indian authorities, Sikhs in the UK and abroad who prop up the Indian state and Sikhs who to date have lacked the forethought to contribute and back the Sikh Manifesto just do not know how to respond to the huge impact it is having. The Sikh Manifesto is resulting in UK politicians from all political parties not only singing the praises of the Sikhs, but also making specific commitments linked to the demands in the Sikh Manifesto. Sikh Federation launch campaign manifesto ahead of general election [File Photo] The latest contribution regarding the proposal that the British Army will raise a Sikh regiment has come from Shankar Roychowdhury, the former Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, and former member of the Indian Parliament as they believe UK Ministers are serious about this proposal. He has written: ‘The aim of the British government in announcing the proposal of creating a Sikh Regiment in the British Army at this juncture could be two-fold.’ ’Firstly, the British Army is trying to make up for the manpower shortage it has been facing by mobilising recruits from a distinctive British ethnic minority with a historic tradition of soldiering for the British Empire.’ ‘Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the British government wants to use the new regiment to tap into the political potential of British Sikh votebank ahead of the next British general elections, imminent in 2015.’ The former Indian Army Chief has further stated: ‘India has some concerns about the Sikh Regiment of the British Army.’ ‘If the British Sikh Regiment is created, it will be incumbent for the British government to remain alert to the possibilities of Khalistani sympathisers attempting to contact its ranks. The potential for mischief does exist here, and the Indian and British governments will have to devise methods to neutralise it.’ Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said: ‘It is inappropriate for the former Indian Army Chief to raise such concerns. The British Sikh Regiment has nothing to do with India as he himself has admitted the regiment would be made up of ‘British Sikhs’ – all British citizens and permanent residents in the UK. What he has said is totally unacceptable.’ ‘What he has said about possible links between the rank and file of the British Sikh Regiment and Sikhs who may be demanding an independent Sikh homeland amounts to nothing more than scaremongering. He needs to appreciate in Britain and other countries around the world it is not illegal to demand and call for independence and a separate homeland or self determination i.e. Scotland, as long as this is done through a peaceful and democratic framework.’

ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ, ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਿਹ UK Parliament launch of the Sikh Manifesto today from 3-5pm at Portcullis House, Westminster, in the Attlee Suite. In the last decade the approach of the community led by the Sikh Federation (UK) has been politically transformed from radical immigrant class politics to a leader of the Sikh Diaspora in professional lobbying on a comprehensive range of issues. The Sikh Manifesto 2015-2020 is widely viewed as a crucial development reflecting the political maturity of British Sikhs. At the National Sikh Convention in September 2014, it was decided to establish the Sikh Network and launch a Sikh Manifesto for the 2015 General Election so that the main political parties seeking Sikh votes are made aware of the Sikh objectives during the next Parliament. Members of the Sikh Network have worked with the Sikh Federation (UK) to produce the Sikh Manifesto which provides politicians and the wider public with a better understanding of the Sikh contribution, as well as the challenges which Sikhs continue to face due mainly to their distinct religious needs and identity. The Sikh Manifesto is about empowering the UK Sikh community to engage with the UK political system and create partnerships with democratic institutions. The Sikh Network will monitor progress against the Sikh Manifesto over the next five years and discuss and agree changes in strategy and approach to help deliver against the issues set out. The ten-point Sikh Manifesto is unlike the manifestos of the political parties. All Sikh organisations can relate to all or part of the Sikh Manifesto as a briefing document. It is based on the widest possible consensus and collates the most important areas in which challenges remain for British Sikhs and progress is required. All Sikhs can relate to and adopt most or all objectives set out in the Sikh Manifesto and will use it to challenge candidates and political parties to clarify their position prior to the May 2015 General Election and also judge their backing for Sikh issues after being elected. The opinion polls and the emergence of UKIP make the Sikh vote crucial to all the main political parties in the May 2015 General Election. Based on the results of the 2010 General Election there are sufficient Sikh voters alone to determine who will be elected in around 80% of the 50 target seats. http://www.thesikhnetwork.com/sikhmanifesto.php?id=1