LABOUR GOVERNMENT IS RACIST

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

PRESS RELEASE - SIKH FEDERATION (UK)

Issued - 15 April 2005

[To coincide with Michael Howard's visit to the Sikh Gurdwara in Gravesend]

LABOUR GOVERNMENT IS RACIST

The estimated 700,000 British Sikhs are honest, hard working, law-abiding citizens that the Labour Government is ignoring and taking for granted.

The Labour Government has failed to give fair treatment to Sikhs, despite them being the largest and most distinct ethnic minority in the country and being recognised for over 20 years as a separate race and ethnic group by the highest legal authority in the country. (Note 1)

Since the introduction of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 the Labour Government has ignored Sikhs and failed to ensure fair treatment as regards the provision of public services, such as health, education, employment etc. (Note 2)

The Sikh Federation (UK), the first and only Sikh political party, launched in September 2003 to encourage British Sikhs to engage more proactively in the political process has stated:

"The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats have made it clear that it is official party policy to support the separate recognition and monitoring of Sikhs by public bodies. We also have cross-party support from over 200 MPs, including many Ministers, however time is running out for the Labour Government which has to date ignored British Sikhs and our elected representatives. We are grateful for support from many individual MPs - Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats, SNP, PC etc. but Labour is taking a big risk in denying Sikhs the right to fair treatment as recognised by law."

"Lawyers have suggested the Labour Government if prosecuted could be found guilty of racism in failing to require public bodies to separately monitor Sikhs for the purposes of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. We feel the time is right for the Labour Government to respond to legitimate Sikh demands for fair treatment. Given the situation with Rover in the West Midlands the Sikh vote will be more important than ever."

Gurjeet Singh

National Press Secretary

Note 1: Sikhs were recognised as a distinct race and ethnic group in Mandla v Lee (1983) in the House of Lords. Race Relations legislation can therefore be used to protect Sikhs from racial discrimination.

Note 2: A petition signed by over 150 Sikh organisations was submitted to 10 Downing Street in July 2002 by a cross-party selection of MPs, led by Oliver Letwin MP, Simon Hughes MP and Labour MPs from Sikh constituencies in London, the West Midlands and the East Midlands.

For further information visit www.sikhfederation.com

[kurtas]

PRESS RELEASE - SIKH FEDERATION (UK)

Issued - 15 April 2005

[To coincide with Michael Howard's visit to the Sikh Gurdwara in Gravesend]

LABOUR GOVERNMENT IS RACIST

The estimated 700,000 British Sikhs are honest, hard working, law-abiding citizens that the Labour Government is ignoring and taking for granted.

The Labour Government has failed to give fair treatment to Sikhs, despite them being the largest and most distinct ethnic minority in the country and being recognised for over 20 years as a separate race and ethnic group by the highest legal authority in the country. (Note 1)

Since the introduction of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 the Labour Government has ignored Sikhs and failed to ensure fair treatment as regards the provision of public services, such as health, education, employment etc. (Note 2)

The Sikh Federation (UK), the first and only Sikh political party, launched in September 2003 to encourage British Sikhs to engage more proactively in the political process has stated:

"The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats have made it clear that it is official party policy to support the separate recognition and monitoring of Sikhs by public bodies.  We also have cross-party support from over 200 MPs, including many Ministers, however time is running out for the Labour Government which has to date ignored British Sikhs and our elected representatives.  We are grateful for support from many individual MPs - Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats, SNP, PC etc. but Labour is taking a big risk in denying Sikhs the right to fair treatment as recognised by law."

"Lawyers have suggested the Labour Government if prosecuted could be found guilty of racism in failing to require public bodies to separately monitor Sikhs for the purposes of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act.  We feel the time is right for the Labour Government to respond to legitimate Sikh demands for fair treatment.  Given the situation with Rover in the West Midlands the Sikh vote will be more important than ever."

Gurjeet Singh

National Press Secretary

Note 1: Sikhs were recognised as a distinct race and ethnic group in Mandla v Lee (1983) in the House of Lords.  Race Relations legislation can therefore be used to protect Sikhs from racial discrimination.

Note 2: A petition signed by over 150 Sikh organisations was submitted to 10 Downing Street in July 2002 by a cross-party selection of MPs, led by Oliver Letwin MP, Simon Hughes MP and Labour MPs from Sikh constituencies in London, the West Midlands and the East Midlands.

For further information visit www.sikhfederation.com

93791[/snapback]

Just a few quick points and personal observations.

The Conservatives did exactly the same as Labour when they were in power. All the political parties take us for granted. When it is election time the local Labour MP will pop round to the Gurdwara. After he is elected you will not see him again and he will not even bother to answer your letters/emails. He will not help you with anything.

I am all for seperate monitoring but will will the picture not be distorted as "sehajdharis" will also tick the Sikh box. I know for a fact that a Keshdari Gursikh face more discrimination when it comes to interviews etc than "sehajdharis".

We need to start fighting back and getting a foothold in politics. I urge you all to join political parties. It is no good having the Sikh Federation representing us (they do not have the clout that say the Jewish lobby in the US has), we need to join mainstream political parties as that way at least we can get a say when it comes to candidate selection etc. We have areas where there are large concentrations of Sikhs and if we get enough Sikhs to join a party in these areas we can in effect have a block vote (just like the Muslims do in areas of Birmingham).

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

The Press Release states:

"The Sikh Federation (UK), the first and only Sikh political party, launched in September 2003 to encourage British Sikhs to engage more proactively in the political process"

The process we are engaged is a long-term initiative involving:

- encouraging Sikhs to join each of the main political parties and exert pressure from within

- taking part in Sikh Lobby Days in the UK Parliament to raise awareness and push specific Sikh issues - see Sikh Agenda for the UK Government

- educating Sikhs at a local level (particularly in Gurdwaras) to make their MPs more accountable and ask them what they are doing for the Sikh community - locally, nationally and internationally

- engaging with senior politicians from each of the main political parties at a national level

- providing media responses on "political" issues involving the Sikhs

- improving government consultation with the grassroots of the community

Sikhs in some towns are making good progress - Derby, Leicester, Wolverhampton etc. However, much more needs to be done over the next 5 to 10 years. Young Sikhs (Sikhs born and/or bred up in the UK) are the ones that will make a real difference in the years to come.

Please help the Sikh Federation (UK) and Young Sikhs (UK) in whichever way possible at a local or national level.

Visit www.sikhfederation.com for further information.

[`KuMi´]

so SF and YS have joined together, or they were together ??

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

so SF and YS have joined together, or they were together ??

93924[/snapback]

Sikh Federation (UK) announced the setting up of Young Sikhs at the September 2004 National Sikh Convention and wants youngsters to come forward and participate in all Sikh activities - religious, political, sporting etc.

See www.sikhfederation.com for various write ups that mention Young Sikhs and promote their activities.

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Labour Government Accused of Racism towards Sikh Community

Sunday 17th April, 2005

Fauja Singh - Panthic Weekly Staff

London (KP) - The British Sikh Community is estimated at 700,000-who are contributing to the Social and Economic success of the British nation through their honest, hard working, and law-abiding ethics. The Sikh community topped a recent survey carried out comparing communities living in UK and their prosperity. Even though the Sikhs in UK are contributing so much to the wider community through economic, as well as social success, they still face racism from the highest level, claims the Sikh Federation (UK).

The Sikh Federation has said the Labour Government is ignoring and taking for granted citizens of the Sikh Community. "The Labour Government has failed to give fair treatment to Sikhs, despite them being the largest and most distinct ethnic minority in the country."

The Sikh Community has been recognised for over 20 years as a separate race and ethnic group by the highest legal authority in the country. After Mandla v Lee (1983) in the House of Lords, Sikhs have had this recognition in Race Relations legislation, it should therefore be used to protect Sikhs from racial discrimination. Yet in practise, Sikhs are still not categorised and monitored as a separate ethnic minority.

In 2002, Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 was introduced by the Labour Government, Sikhs feel the Government has failed to ensure fair treatment in regards to the provision of public services, such as health, education, employment etc. This is after a petition backed by over 150 Sikh organisations and a selection of cross party MPs was handed into 10 Downing Street in July 2002.

The Sikh Federation (UK) has made a statement in which they have said: "The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats have made it clear that it is official party policy to support the separate recognition and monitoring of Sikhs by public bodies. We also have cross-party support from over 200 MPs, including many Ministers, however time is running out for the Labour Government which has to date ignored British Sikhs and our elected representatives. We are grateful for support from many individual MPs - Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats, SNP, PC etc. but Labour is taking a big risk in denying Sikhs the right to fair treatment as recognised by law."

The Sikh Federation have gone on to say: "Lawyers have suggested the Labour Government if prosecuted could be found guilty of racism in failing to require public bodies to separately monitor Sikhs for the purposes of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. We feel the time is right for the Labour Government to respond to legitimate Sikh demands for fair treatment. Given the situation with Rover in the West Midlands the Sikh vote will be more important than ever."

It seems the Sikh vote is more important than it has ever seemed in a general election. Sikhs throughout the UK will need convincing by the Government to vote labour, as they feel let down and betrayed by Labour, who have been in power for over 8 consecutive years, and have failed to recognise the basic needs of the Sikh Community.

Fauja Singh can be reached at fauja.singh@panthic.org.