UK Parliament launches SIKH group

[K Singh 82]

someone asked me whats the need for it to be established and how will sikhs benefit

so could someone reply with some relevant arguments for the need of it and its benefits... because i get the impression many like myself don't know much about the new group for Sikhs

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

The Press Release issued by the Chair of the APPG for UK Sikhs is attached:

ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FOR UK SIKHS

Chair: Rob Marris MP (Labour, Wolverhampton SW)

Vice-chairs: Dominic Grieve MP (Conservative, Beaconsfield)

Simon Hughes MP (Liberal Democrat, Southwark North & Bermondsey)

John Spellar MP (Labour, Warley)

Alex Salmond MP (Scottish National Party, Banff & Buchan)

Elfyn Llwyd MP (Plaid Cymru, Meirionnydd Nant Conwy)

Secretary: John Randall MP (Conservative, Uxbridge)

Treasurer: Lord Nazir Ahmed

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday 13 July 2005

PUBLIC LAUNCH OF THE ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FOR UK SIKHS

At a packed meeting in Parliament on Tuesday 12 July 2005, over 30 MPs and Lords - including Home Office Minister Tony McNulty MP - welcomed the public launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for UK Sikhs. MPs and Lords from across the political spectrum gathered with representatives from the 360 Gurdwaras (temples) and Sikh organisations, who had been invited to attend.

The inaugural meeting of this brand new APPG was held on 14 June 2005, and it agreed that the purpose of the APPG is:

“To represent within Parliament and with government the interests and concerns of the UK Sikh community and to provide the government and the UK Sikh community with a better two-way consultation process to inform improved decision-making.”

The level of interest shown in the APPG for UK Sikhs by so many Parliamentarians is a just reflection of the considerable contributions made to society by UK Sikhs. The membership of the APPG, and the excellent response from the Sikh communities, stem from an increasing desire amongst UK Sikhs to contribute fully to the UK's democratic institutions and decision-making processes.

Afterwards, the Chair of the APPG Rob Marris MP said:

"I am delighted by the huge response from Sikh organisations and Gurdwaras, many of whom have now committed themselves to work in close partnership with the APPG for UK Sikhs, in order to ensure that UK Sikhs' views are properly understood and presented to government by Parliamentary representatives.

"This is even more important following the London terrorist bombings, and the totally unacceptable attacks on Sikhs and their places of worship - due to the ignorance and hatred of those who would seek to divide our society. They will not succeed."

All those present at the meeting expressed their outrage at the bombings themselves, and wholeheartedly condemned all attacks on people and on places of worship, including those against Sikhs who are the largest and most visible ethnic minority in the UK.

Immediately after the launch at Parliament, several Sikhs representatives [accompanied by MPs belonging to the APPG for UK Sikhs} submitted a Memorandum to 10 Downing Street. The Memorandum not only indicated those representatives' main areas of concern, as discussed at the launch meeting, but also made specific reference to the condemnation by Sikhs of last Thursday's terrorist attacks.

Because there seemed to have been little or no mention by senior politicians of the attacks on UK Sikhs, and no real visibility of Sikh leaders at faith or community events associated with the London bombings, an urgent request was made for Downing Street to condemn publicly all hate crimes including specifically those aimed at Sikhs and their religious institutions.

Rob Marris MP

Chair

For the All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

The Memorandum handed in to 10 Downing Street is below:

MEMORANDUM FROM UK SIKHS

12th July 2005

The Right Honourable Tony Blair, MP

The Prime Minister

No. 10 Downing Street

London

SW1A 2AA

Dear Prime Minister,

LAUNCH OF THE ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FOR UK SIKHS

MPs and Lords from across the political spectrum have formally come together to establish the APPG for UK Sikhs. The inaugural meeting of the new APPG was held on 14 June 2005 and agreed that the purpose of the APPG will be:

“To represent within Parliament and with government the interests and concerns of the UK Sikh community and to provide the government and the UK Sikh community with a better two-way consultation process to inform improved decision-making.”

The politicians who are the officers of the APPG for UK Sikhs are as follows:

Chair

Rob Marris MP (Labour, Wolverhampton South West)

Vice-chairs:

Dominic Grieve MP (Conservative, Beaconsfield)

Simon Hughes MP (Liberal Democrat, Southwark North & Bermondsey)

John Spellar MP (Labour, Warley)

Alex Salmond MP (Scottish National Party, Banff & Buchan)

Elfyn Llwyd MP (Plaid Cymru, Meirionnydd Nant Conwy)

Secretary:

John Randall MP (Conservative, Uxbridge)

Treasurer:

Lord Nazir Ahmed (Labour)

The level of interest shown in the APPG for UK Sikhs by senior politicians is a reflection of the considerable contribution made to society by UK Sikhs. The official launch of the APPG for UK Sikhs has just taken place in Portcullis House where representatives from over 360 Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations were invited to take part. The growing membership of the APPG and the excellent response from the Sikh community to fully contribute to our democratic institutions and decision-making process needs to be applauded.

Sikh Gurdwaras and organisations by their response have committed themselves to work in close partnership with the APPG for UK Sikhs, in order to ensure that UK Sikhs' views are properly understood, and are properly presented to government, by their Parliamentary representatives.

The APPG for UK Sikhs has today tabled a number of Early Day Motions informing government of some of the issues that concern MPs. These include:

- UK Government consultation on Sikh issues

- Separate recognition and monitoring of Sikhs

- Code of Practice on Sikh articles of faith

- Anglo Sikh heritage

Other EDMs that are likely to be tabled in the coming weeks and months concern:

- Attacks on Sikhs due to "Mistaken Identity"

- Religious rights and freedoms in the EU

- Access to Panjab for the UN and international human rights organisations

- Lack of justice for the November 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms

- Panjab river waters and desertification

Many of the issues above relate to the activities of the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The office holders of the APPG will therefore be keen to meet with relevant Government Ministers at the first opportunity to establish what can be achieved to make progress in each of these areas.

Also the next APPG for UK Sikhs event will be towards the end of October or early November to mark Guru Nanak's Birthday. It would be a privilege if you could show your appreciation of the contribution of the Sikh community by addressing Sikhs at this event. We have asked Rob Marris MP, the Chair of the APPG for UK Sikhs, to liaise with your office to ensure this will be possible.

We conclude this Memorandum by reminding you that many Sikh organisations have totally condemned the terrorist attacks that targeted innocent civilians in London last week. Sikhs have also sent their condolences to the victims and their families. Our thoughts are still with those that are missing or have been injured. However, we are deeply concerned that many senior politicians have been unable to even mention Sikhs, despite Sikhs and our Gurdwaras being targeted through "mistaken identity". We would appreciate an urgent statement from you and other senior politicians to show lessons have been learnt following 9/11, where Sikhs as the largest and most visible ethnic minority in the UK, were wrongly targeted and attacks on Sikhs are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

In the picture below outside 10 Downing Street those shown from left to right are Adam Holloway MP, Sir Peter Soulsby MP, Mark Pritchard MP, Bhai Amrik Singh - Chair, Sikh Federation (UK), Dominic Grieve MP, John Austin MP (for Erith where the first Gurdwara was attacked following the terrorist atrocities last Thursday) and representives of the Sikh youth.

[`KuMi´]

Wiked

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Another couple of pictures from Downing Street.