Uk Tolerance Of Sikh Groups Worries India

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

India's reaction to the Worldwide Candle Lit Vigils that were inspired by the Sikh Federation (UK)

UK tolerance of Sikh groups worries India

RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL

[ Friday, January 20, 2006 02:20:39 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

LONDON: India has questioned Britain's commitment to fighting global terrorism of the non-Islamist kind by raising concerns about the new prominence and political legitimacy allegedly being given to "Sikh extremist groups" based here, TOI can reveal.

Indian concerns centre around a 'candle light vigil' outside the British parliament two days ago, in what many believe to be an overly shrill attempt by Sikh groups to underline their "opposition to the (Indian) death penalty and call for the release of all Sikh political prisoners held in jails in India."

Despite India voicing its concerns, the vigil went ahead with London's Metropolitan Police declaring there were "no grounds" for it to be banned.

Indian concerns include the allegation that the vigil's organiser, the Sikh Federation (UK), is a front organisation for a British-proscribed terrorist group, the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The Sikh Federation has always denied the charge.

India has complained that "many of the declared office bearers of the Sikh Federation... are the same (as those of the banned ISYF)".

It alleges that the Sikh Federation chairman Amrik Singh Gill was the ISYF's former president; its vice-chairman Kuldeep Singh Chaheru was formerly ISYF (Damdani Taksal) president until the faction merged with the ISYF and general secretary Narenderjit Singh was once president of ISYF (Bitoo).

The Sikh Federation claims to be the UK's first and only Sikh political party. Its spokesman has always claimed that "the Sikh vote matters in about 40 to 50 key (British) constituencies."

[anjaan]

haha typical!!

well they can try all they want!! (india i mean!!)

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

India's reaction to the Worldwide Candle Lit Vigils that were inspired by the Sikh Federation (UK)

UK tolerance of Sikh groups worries India

RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL

[ Friday, January 20, 2006 02:20:39 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

LONDON: India has questioned Britain's commitment to fighting global terrorism of the non-Islamist kind by raising concerns about the new prominence and political legitimacy allegedly being given to "Sikh extremist groups" based here, TOI can reveal.

Indian concerns centre around a 'candle light vigil' outside the British parliament two days ago, in what many believe to be an overly shrill attempt by Sikh groups to underline their "opposition to the (Indian) death penalty and call for the release of all Sikh political prisoners held in jails in India."

Despite India voicing its concerns, the vigil went ahead with London's Metropolitan Police declaring there were "no grounds" for it to be banned.

Indian concerns include the allegation that the vigil's organiser, the Sikh Federation (UK), is a front organisation for a British-proscribed terrorist group, the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The Sikh Federation has always denied the charge.

India has complained that "many of the declared office bearers of the Sikh Federation... are the same (as those of the banned ISYF)".

It alleges that the Sikh Federation chairman Amrik Singh Gill was the ISYF's former president; its vice-chairman Kuldeep Singh Chaheru was formerly ISYF (Damdani Taksal) president until the faction merged with the ISYF and general secretary Narenderjit Singh was once president of ISYF (Bitoo).

The Sikh Federation claims to be the UK's first and only Sikh political party. Its spokesman has always claimed that "the Sikh vote matters in about 40 to 50 key (British) constituencies."

147585[/snapback]

Email just sent by Gurteg Singh

Dear Cyber Sangat Ji,

The highly successful Candlelight Vigil in UK and many other cities has unnerved the Indian Government.

Indian newspaper Times Of India in a dispatch from London by its journalist "Rashmi Roshan Lall" talks about "how worried" and concerned the Indian Goverment is regarding this development and rues that UK Government is tolerating all this.

Offcourse if it was within "the democratic and non violent" Indian Government's power, it would have allready sent its military and police personnel under the command of one of its national heroes like butcher KPS Gill to arrest these protesting Sikhs. Many many would have disappeared in so called Police encounters, many would have been hanged upside down in torture chambers with their limbs broken by all kind of instruments. Many many would have been put behind bars for the rest of their lives without any trial under draconian laws.

But in this case our sympathies are with Indian Government in its predicament and helplessness because these Sikhs live in the free world and are not under occupation and subjugation of the Indian "Secular Democracy". But Indian Government has not lost heart. It is still trying very hard by using the tried and tested label of terrorists on these Sikh Candle Light Vigil(antes). The Indian media is helping the GOI in its "branding" efforts of the Sikhs.

Even those who sympathize with Indian Government's helplessness however point out that the Indian Government could use its resources in more efficient ways instead of looking for so called "terrorists" in UK, USA, Pakistan, even in north pole or outer space. They point that the largest concentration of Big name terrorists is within a stone's throw of Indian Giovernment's headquarters in New Delhi. Hundreds of these terrorists who are well known and even members of Indian Parliament and indian cabinet can be easily found roaming in the corridors of power in New Delhi. Hindu politicians, police and military officers whose names are well known and have been identified by victims of these terrorists can easily be nabbed without much efforts if their is will to catch the "REAL TERRORISTS AND MASS MURDERERS".

Let us hope the Indian Government will heed the advise of its well wishers and look under its very own nose for a far bigger and richer haul of the terrorists rather than getting "worried" about a few Sikhs who are only performing their God given right of freedom of speech at the clock tower in UK.

Gurteg Singh

[Tera]

Would terrorists/extremists get together to hold a peaceful candle light vigil?!?

Despite India voicing its concerns, the vigil went ahead with London's Metropolitan Police declaring there were "no grounds" for it to be banned.

Good thing though is that it got India's attention... :TH:

[balraj singh khalsa]

Elsewhere I asked about the Home Office (UK Government) funding of £23,500 for the "secret" BSCF.

Those belonging to the "secret" BSCF according to their web site are:

Chairperson

Bhai Mohinder Singh: 0121 511 125

Vice chairpersons

Dr Sadhu Singh: 07958378776

Mr Avtar Singh Sanghera: 012476 684 802

General Secretary

Dr Jasdev Singh Rai: 07956 212 343

Liaison Secretary

Balwinder Singh: 0121 522 4828

Press Secretaries

Jaswinder Singh Nagra (English press): 07956 950 591

Having read the article from the Times of India below about the Sikh Federation (UK) the BIG question is:

Why is the Indian Government not worried about funds being provided by the UK Government to the "secret" BSCF?

Dr Jasdev Singh Rai - Ex-President of the ISYF

Dr Sadhu Singh - Ex-General Secretary of the ISYF

Jaswinder Singh Nagra - Ex-Press Secretary of the ISYF

Balwinder Singh - Ex-President of the ISYF (DT)

These were all around during the 1980s when the armed struggle was at its peak.

Also isn't Avtar Singh Sanghera regularly reported in the media as a leader of the banned Babbar Khalsa?

That leaves the controversial Chairperson, Bhai Mohinder Singh that many already know about.

India's reaction to the Worldwide Candle Lit Vigils that were inspired by the Sikh Federation (UK)

UK tolerance of Sikh groups worries India

RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL

[ Friday, January 20, 2006 02:20:39 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

LONDON: India has questioned Britain's commitment to fighting global terrorism of the non-Islamist kind by raising concerns about the new prominence and political legitimacy allegedly being given to "Sikh extremist groups" based here, TOI can reveal.

Indian concerns centre around a 'candle light vigil' outside the British parliament two days ago, in what many believe to be an overly shrill attempt by Sikh groups to underline their "opposition to the (Indian) death penalty and call for the release of all Sikh political prisoners held in jails in India."

Despite India voicing its concerns, the vigil went ahead with London's Metropolitan Police declaring there were "no grounds" for it to be banned.

Indian concerns include the allegation that the vigil's organiser, the Sikh Federation (UK), is a front organisation for a British-proscribed terrorist group, the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The Sikh Federation has always denied the charge.

India has complained that "many of the declared office bearers of the Sikh Federation... are the same (as those of the banned ISYF)".

It alleges that the Sikh Federation chairman Amrik Singh Gill was the ISYF's former president; its vice-chairman Kuldeep Singh Chaheru was formerly ISYF (Damdani Taksal) president until the faction merged with the ISYF and general secretary Narenderjit Singh was once president of ISYF (Bitoo).

The Sikh Federation claims to be the UK's first and only Sikh political party. Its spokesman has always claimed that "the Sikh vote matters in about 40 to 50 key (British) constituencies."

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Email message received by the Sikh Federation (UK)

It is the height of India's intolerance that should be of concern here, not the UK's tolerance of peaceful protest on its own soil against draconian Indian laws and human rights violations that are carried out against minorities like the Sikhs in the self-proclaimed 'World's Largest Democracy' (Exactly who are these deluded Hindus trying to fool with this false claim?).

It is well known what happened last year to activists (including senior leaders) of the Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) when peaceful protests against the government of India had taken place in Amritsar on January 26th and June 5th. But how dare these despicable Hindu fanatics try to dictate terms to the British authorities by seeking a ban on peaceful and legitimate protest by British citizens in the UK? It is outrageous that the Indians would attempt to interfere with and curb lawful activities of Sikhs living and belonging to sovereign nations like the UK.

If anyone had any doubts about the claim by the Sikh Federation (UK) that the Indian government had even lobbied against the support for the British government's recognition of the Sikhs as a distinct minority community for the purposes of ethnic profiling/monitoring then surely those doubts should be now put to rest. Such low tactics by the government of India should not deter political activism by British Sikhs but rather strengthen the resolve to campaign even harder against this menace and cancer on the Globe.

How on Earth is anyone supposed to believe that minority communities in India are allowed to freely hold and express independent political views when this very same Indian government is trying to silence the political beliefs of Sikhs in the UK? Not even that, but these candlelit vigils had not so much to do with political activism as they had to do with issues of human rights, and yet still, this tyrannical thin-skinned Hindu majority Indian government wanted a ban on such activity? This is a government obviously with much to hide and much to answer for!

It is clear from this article that the government of India will go to any extent to silence the voice of Sikh discontent, not only in India itself but even abroad. There have been many wake-up calls to this reality but when will they actually hit home?

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

A BBC online article is likely to be released on Monday on the political response in the UK to the Candle Lit Vigils.

It may also touch upon the Indian Government attempts to have the Candle Lit Vigil opposite the Houses of Parliament banned.

In a separate move the Sikh Federation (UK) last night issued a Press Note in response to the Times of India article 'UK tolerance of Sikh groupsworries India'. This will be shared more widely if the Times of India do not publish an article in the next 48 hours based on our response.

[lsingh]

The Indian statement is interferance in another countries internal affairs(a term which India uses to deflect criticism). Why are they so worried, are they afraid that the genocide that was committed on Sikhs is getting publicity in the West? The Uk has laws which can convict people who have carried out crimes against humanity. A bet a few Indians are worried about visiting the UK

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

India's reaction to the Worldwide Candle Lit Vigils that were inspired by the Sikh Federation (UK)

UK tolerance of Sikh groups worries India

RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL

[ Friday, January 20, 2006 02:20:39 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

LONDON: India has questioned Britain's commitment to fighting global terrorism of the non-Islamist kind by raising concerns about the new prominence and political legitimacy allegedly being given to "Sikh extremist groups" based here, TOI can reveal.

Indian concerns centre around a 'candle light vigil' outside the British parliament two days ago, in what many believe to be an overly shrill attempt by Sikh groups to underline their "opposition to the (Indian) death penalty and call for the release of all Sikh political prisoners held in jails in India."

Despite India voicing its concerns, the vigil went ahead with London's Metropolitan Police declaring there were "no grounds" for it to be banned.

Indian concerns include the allegation that the vigil's organiser, the Sikh Federation (UK), is a front organisation for a British-proscribed terrorist group, the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The Sikh Federation has always denied the charge.

India has complained that "many of the declared office bearers of the Sikh Federation... are the same (as those of the banned ISYF)".

It alleges that the Sikh Federation chairman Amrik Singh Gill was the ISYF's former president; its vice-chairman Kuldeep Singh Chaheru was formerly ISYF (Damdani Taksal) president until the faction merged with the ISYF and general secretary Narenderjit Singh was once president of ISYF (Bitoo).

The Sikh Federation claims to be the UK's first and only Sikh political party. Its spokesman has always claimed that "the Sikh vote matters in about 40 to 50 key (British) constituencies."

147585[/snapback]

The above is the on-line version of the article.

A fuller version of the article is believe to have appeared in hard copies of the Times of India. That makes even more interesting reading and highlights how India fear events likes Sikhs in the Square (which gets a message), candle lit vigils in prominent places in the West (of the sort seen on 17 January 2006) and lobbying of politicians by Sikhs on issues that concern us.

A lot of pressure is being exerted by India on the UK Govt/Police - threats are being made by India - the UK Govt/Police appear to be taking a robust line in not simply accepting all of India's wishes. However, watch the space - we need to be aware of the Indian Govt's tactics in trying to silence Sikhs abroad.

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

UK Sikh Federation Flays Indian Interference in Press Note

Sunday 22nd January, 2006

PRESS NOTE : Sikh Federation (UK)

London, UK (KP) - The Sikh Federation (UK) criticized the Indian Government's unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of the UK Sikhs. The Indian Goverment attempted to seek a ban on the peaceful vigils held in the UK to protest the illegal detention of Sikh political activists in Indian jails.

Friday 20 January 2006

British Sikhs and UK politicians are outraged at Indian attempts to curb lawful protests by UK Sikhs

Earlier this week thousands of Sikhs held candle lit vigils in over 100 cities worldwide to call for an immediate end to the death penalty in India and for the release of all Sikh political prisoners held in Indian jails.

The Sikh Federation (UK) was the inspiration and organisational power behind the vigils not only in the UK, but across the globe. The Federation is a non-governmental organisation set up in September 2003 and often described as the first and only Sikh political party in the UK.

The Indian Government response to the vigils, including those in Punjab, has been to attack the UK Government for supposedly giving political legitimacy to the Federation and criticism of the Metropolitan Police for allowing a candle lit vigil outside the UK Parliament after India called for it to be banned. The Federation and UK politicians are amazed at the Indian response revealed in the Times of India ('UK tolerance of Sikh groups worries India' - 20 January 2006) and the lengths to which India is prepared to go to escape criticism over its policy on the death penalty.

The Chair of the Federation, Bhai Amrik Singh said: "We are astonished India feels threatened by peaceful candle lit vigils. India has shown its paranoia and refuses to accept criticism over its human rights record and outrageous policies. Not content with silencing the Sikh freedom movement in India through widespread human rights abuses since the late 1970s it has for the last five years set its sights on suppressing the Sikh voice of freedom in the Diaspora. It is obvious India has much to hide and even more to answer for. These pitiful tactics will not deter political activism, but strengthen our resolve to campaign even harder against India's systematic bigotry towards Sikhs."

It is widely believed the real reasons for India's concern is the ever increasing importance of the Sikh Federation in the UK and with Sikhs throughout the world. The Federation has demonstrated in a relatively short space of time its huge influence is not only within the international Sikh community, but with politicians of all political parties in the UK and Europe.

A Federation spokesman said: "Our strength is we are presenting a convincing case on behalf of the Sikh Nation through the use of innovative campaigning. This is attracting considerable interest from our own youngsters who we are keen should take the lead, politicians and more recently ordinary members of the public are beginning to champion our cause. India wishes to continue to present a false image of the Sikhs that it created in the 1980s and is resorting to unacceptable tactics that we are confident foreign governments will reject. How dare India try and dictate to the UK Government by seeking a ban on peaceful and legitimate protests by British citizens in the UK."

As a direct result of the candle lit vigils British MPs have tabled motions in Parliament and UK MEPs have promised a written declaration in the European Parliament. The motion in the UK Parliament relating to the case of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar is urging the UK Government to do all it can in conjunction with the German Government and the European Union in making representations to the Indian authorities.

Gurjeet Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

Sikh Federation (UK) can be reached at sikhfederationuk@yahoo.co.uk