Sikhs Expected To Challenge Indian High Commissioner At Public Meeting

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

SIKH SECRETARIAT

Helping deliver the Sikh Agenda for the UK Government

rejectindia@yahoo.co.uk

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday 15 June 2006

SIKHS EXPECTED TO CHALLENGE INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER AT PUBLIC MEETING

Sikh activists from in and around Slough are preparing to give a different kind of reception to the Indian High Commissioner when he holds a public meeting in Slough Town Hall tomorrow evening (Friday 16 June). He will be appearing between 7-8pm and aims to discuss dual nationality.

Sikhs from a number of local organisations in and around Slough are expected to be in attendance at the public meeting and have vowed to challenge the Indian High Commissioner on India's treatment of the Sikhs during the question and answer session.

A spokesman for the Sikh Secretariat who has been organising Sikh activists behind the scenes said: 'We wish to challenge the Indian High Commissioner face to face and in public. We will be doing this in an organised and professional manner and have been careful not to publicise what we have planned until the last minute. This was necessary as there was a danger he would cancel fearing being embarrassed by our questions. In the dual nationality debate we will be setting out why Sikhs should reject India and its nationality and that Sikhs should be pushing for outright independence with international support.'

'We will be highlighting how the Indian state has totally failed the Sikhs. They have reneged on the promises made to the Sikhs before we led the struggle for independence. They promised that Sikhs would be given full rights in India and that no law would be passed without consulting Sikhs.'

'At the Lahore session of the Congress Party on December 31, 1929 it was stated "...in future, the Congress shall accept no constitution which does not meet with the satisfaction of the Sikhs". However, when the Indian constitution was written Sikhs refused to sign it as Article (Dhara) 25 declared Sikhism as part of Hinduism.'

'Article 25 alone and the lack of legal recognition of Sikhs in India is enough for us to reject India and its nationality. The Indian High Commissioner should be ashamed to show his face in a town such as Slough, which has a large Sikh population.'

''We will also be reminding him and others present that the Indian State has the blood of thousands of innocent Sikhs and other minorities on its hands and it is insulting for him to ignore this and talk about dual nationality as though nothing has happened. India must be bought to account for the genocide of Sikhs in 1984.'

'We will ask him how he has the nerve to ask British Sikhs to agree to dual nationality when the likes of Balram Jhakhar, the former speaker in the Indian Parliament said: "To preserve the unity of India, if we have to eradicate 20 million (2-kror) Sikhs, we will do so".

A local spokesman for the Sikh Federation (UK) said: 'we urge Sikhs in the South East to turn up and challenge the Indian High Commissioner. He should be left in no doubt that Sikhs reject India and will not rest until we achieve our freedom.'

J Singh

National Co-ordinator

Sikh Secretariat

Note 1 - Those requiring additional information on how Sikh activists plan to challenge the Indian High Commissioner should email rejectindia@yahoo.co.uk

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

SIKH SECRETARIAT

Helping deliver the Sikh Agenda for the UK Government

rejectindia@yahoo.co.uk

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday 15 June 2006

SIKHS EXPECTED TO CHALLENGE INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER AT PUBLIC MEETING

Sikh activists from in and around Slough are preparing to give a different kind of reception to the Indian High Commissioner when he holds a public meeting in Slough Town Hall tomorrow evening (Friday 16 June). He will be appearing between 7-8pm and aims to discuss dual nationality.

Sikhs from a number of local organisations in and around Slough are expected to be in attendance at the public meeting and have vowed to challenge the Indian High Commissioner on India's treatment of the Sikhs during the question and answer session.

A spokesman for the Sikh Secretariat who has been organising Sikh activists behind the scenes said: 'We wish to challenge the Indian High Commissioner face to face and in public. We will be doing this in an organised and professional manner and have been careful not to publicise what we have planned until the last minute. This was necessary as there was a danger he would cancel fearing being embarrassed by our questions. In the dual nationality debate we will be setting out why Sikhs should reject India and its nationality and that Sikhs should be pushing for outright independence with international support.'

'We will be highlighting how the Indian state has totally failed the Sikhs. They have reneged on the promises made to the Sikhs before we led the struggle for independence. They promised that Sikhs would be given full rights in India and that no law would be passed without consulting Sikhs.'

'At the Lahore session of the Congress Party on December 31, 1929 it was stated "...in future, the Congress shall accept no constitution which does not meet with the satisfaction of the Sikhs". However, when the Indian constitution was written Sikhs refused to sign it as Article (Dhara) 25 declared Sikhism as part of Hinduism.'

'Article 25 alone and the lack of legal recognition of Sikhs in India is enough for us to reject India and its nationality. The Indian High Commissioner should be ashamed to show his face in a town such as Slough, which has a large Sikh population.'

''We will also be reminding him and others present that the Indian State has the blood of thousands of innocent Sikhs and other minorities on its hands and it is insulting for him to ignore this and talk about dual nationality as though nothing has happened. India must be bought to account for the genocide of Sikhs in 1984.'

'We will ask him how he has the nerve to ask British Sikhs to agree to dual nationality when the likes of Balram Jhakhar, the former speaker in the Indian Parliament said: "To preserve the unity of India, if we have to eradicate 20 million (2-kror) Sikhs, we will do so".

A local spokesman for the Sikh Federation (UK) said: 'we urge Sikhs in the South East to turn up and challenge the Indian High Commissioner. He should be left in no doubt that Sikhs reject India and will not rest until we achieve our freedom.'

J Singh

National Co-ordinator

Sikh Secretariat

Note 1 - Those requiring additional information on how Sikh activists plan to challenge the Indian High Commissioner should email rejectindia@yahoo.co.uk

BUMP

[Nirvair S Khalsa]

...THIS EVENT>>>.....

Vaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa, Vaheguroo Jee Kee Phateh!!!

[khalistan_zindabaad]

thanks for letting us know and also the high comissioner know so he can prepair or most likely not turn up. .. it better if u actually do sumthing then say that this was done. then tell us b4 and then things not go to plan..

[Nirvair S Khalsa]

thanks for letting us know and also the high comissioner know so he can prepair or most likely not turn up. .. it better if u actually do sumthing then say that this was done. then tell us b4 and then things not go to plan..

If you read the following a little more carefully Veer Jee:

A spokesman for the Sikh Secretariat who has been organising Sikh activists behind the scenes said: 'We wish to challenge the Indian High Commissioner face to face and in public. We will be doing this in an organised and professional manner and have been careful not to publicise what we have planned until the last minute. This was necessary as there was a danger he would cancel fearing being embarrassed by our questions. In the dual nationality debate we will be setting out why Sikhs should reject India and its nationality and that Sikhs should be pushing for outright independence with international support.'

You must appreciate Veer Jee, that a small modest announcement is essential at the very last minute at such a happening so that a certain number of persons are aware and able to make an appearance.

Besides, if the Commissioner DOESN’T turn up, he will just blatantly be witnessed as ineffectual and cowardly. If he DOES turn up, then he has no rational grounds for debate with what the Sikh Secretariat hopes to raise today as shown in the press release above.

Either way, to the common Sikh or person from a logical point of outlook, by and large, the Sikh Secretariat and Sikh Federation win this round already!

Vaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa, Vaheguroo Jee Kee Phateh!!!

[Zanda]

We agree in the name of God and we expected it ready, yet guess we will have to work a bit more...

We have a plan and ask for a brave new world!

Mammon one side and us other and make a Yin/Yang...

Please if the true Sikh’s will assist we will help in diplomacy, if we can arrange it as the world is going to burst soon with current religious climates!

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

SIKH SECRETARIAT

rejectindia@yahoo.co.uk

PRESS RELEASE

Sunday 18 June 2006

INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER AND HIS REPRESENTATIVES AVOID ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON THE TREATMENT OF SIKHS

On Sunday 11 June a representative of the Indian Welfare Society announced in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at the Gurdwara in Slough that the Indian High Commissioner would be holding a public meeting at Slough Town Hall on Friday 16 June to discuss dual nationality. The public meeting and the attendance of the Indian High Commissioner was confirmed by Slough Town Hall officials in the Press and Communications Office on Tuesday 13 June.

Following enquiries by the BBC on the eve of the meeting the Sikh Secretariat announced Sikh activists from in and around Slough would be challenging the Indian High Commissioner on India's treatment of the Sikhs during the question and answer session. In a press release issued on the eve a spokesman for the Sikh Secretariat said: 'We wish to challenge the Indian High Commissioner face to face and in public. We will be doing this in an organised and professional manner and have been careful not to publicise what we have planned until the last minute.'

'This was necessary as there was a danger the Indian High Commissioner would cancel, fearing being embarrassed by our questions. In the dual nationality debate we will be setting out why Sikhs should reject India and its nationality and that Sikhs should be pushing for outright independence with international support.'

'We will be highlighting how the Indian state has totally failed the Sikhs. They have reneged on the promises made to the Sikhs before we led the struggle for independence. They promised that Sikhs would be given full rights in India and that no law would be passed without consulting Sikhs.'

'At the Lahore session of the Congress Party on December 31, 1929 it was stated "...in future, the Congress shall accept no constitution which does not meet with the satisfaction of the Sikhs". However, when the Indian constitution was written Sikhs refused to sign it as Article (Dhara) 25 declared Sikhism as part of Hinduism.'

'Article 25 alone and the lack of legal recognition of Sikhs in India is enough for us to reject India and its nationality. The Indian High Commissioner should be ashamed to show his face in a town such as Slough, which has a large Sikh population.'

'We will also be reminding him and others present that the Indian State has the blood of thousands of innocent Sikhs and other minorities on its hands and it is insulting for him to ignore this and talk about dual nationality as though nothing has happened. India must be bought to account for the genocide of Sikhs in 1984.'

'We will ask him how he has the nerve to ask British Sikhs to agree to dual nationality when the likes of Balram Jhakhar, the former speaker in the Indian Parliament said: "To preserve the unity of India, if we have to eradicate 20 million (2-kror) Sikhs, we will do so".

On the day of the meeting it became apparent from media contacts that the Indian High Commissioner would not be taking part, instead Rajat Bagchi, the Minister for Co-ordination at the High Commission of India would be attending. The organisers also informed the police that the meeting was now a private meeting fearing challenging questions.

Around 50-60 people attended the so-called 'private' meeting where the organisers themselves decided in advance to provide a series of questions to the three representatives of the Indian High Commission. This was clearly designed to avoid any problematical questions, but did not prevent several awkward questions being put to Rajat Bagchi.

He was asked specifically if it was proper for him to discuss dual nationality given the failings of the Indian constitution in separately recognising Sikhs. Bagchi said he was unaware this issue would be raised, understood the point that was being raised, but could not address this issue as it was of a 'political' nature.

Later this was followed with a question to Bagchi on whether the 'OIC' status or 'lifetime visa' required any allegiance to the Indian state as some Sikhs would find this impossible. He was clearly irritated with this question and simply posed a question in return - asking why this would be any different to showing allegiance to Britain in obtaining British citizenship. The organisers tried to prevent a response to this question, but an interruption was made to explain Britain legally recognised Sikhs while India did not. In the response Bagchi was told if India did not recognise Sikhs then all Sikhs true to their faith and community should not recognise the Indian state. He again said he could not respond to such 'political' matters.

As Bagchi and others from the Indian High Commission left, placards highlighting human rights abuses by the Indian authorities were on display and a large banner outside the Town Hall about 1984 and India's Hidden Genocide. Bagchi was also challenged outside as he left. He was asked by a spokesman for the Sikh Secretariat why he was unable to answer questions of a 'political' nature as he was from the Indian High Commission and surely he represented the Indian Government. His response was only the Indian High Commissioner could respond to the political issues raised and the Sikh Secretariat should arrange to meet with him. The Secretariat said it would take up this challenge, but would not be surprised if the Indian High commissioner refuses to meet.

The Sikh Secretariat met the police after the meeting who informed the Secretariat the organisers had been frightened as to what may happen. Names of those who had contacted the police were obtained by the Sikh Secretariat for future reference.

J Singh

National Co-ordinator, Sikh Secretariat

[Nirvair S Khalsa]

thanks for letting us know and also the high comissioner know so he can prepair or most likely not turn up. .. it better if u actually do sumthing then say that this was done. then tell us b4 and then things not go to plan..

If you read the following a little more carefully Veer Jee:

A spokesman for the Sikh Secretariat who has been organising Sikh activists behind the scenes said: 'We wish to challenge the Indian High Commissioner face to face and in public. We will be doing this in an organised and professional manner and have been careful not to publicise what we have planned until the last minute. This was necessary as there was a danger he would cancel fearing being embarrassed by our questions. In the dual nationality debate we will be setting out why Sikhs should reject India and its nationality and that Sikhs should be pushing for outright independence with international support.'

You must appreciate Veer Jee, that a small modest announcement is essential at the very last minute at such a happening so that a certain number of persons are aware and able to make an appearance.

Besides, if the Commissioner DOESN’T turn up, he will just blatantly be witnessed as ineffectual and cowardly. If he DOES turn up, then he has no rational grounds for debate with what the Sikh Secretariat hopes to raise today as shown in the press release above.

Either way, to the common Sikh or person from a logical point of outlook, by and large, the Sikh Secretariat and Sikh Federation win this round already!

Vaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa, Vaheguroo Jee Kee Phateh!!!

....Re: Press Release in post above...the Sikh Secretariat has clearly made the Commissioner tremble and uneasy due to being challenged by compelling sensible, but valid questions. Seems the Government of India without doubt will receive details about this Friday’s episode.

In a little time and straightforward but logical approach, the Sikh representatives have conveyed a massive message. A job well done by the Sikh Secretariat…

Vaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa, Vaheguroo Jee Kee Phateh!!!

[Into the Light]

like Khalistan Zindabaad already said...wud it not been a better idea to not have publicised that the Sikh secretariat was coming...so he def wud have been there N then he (and not a substitue) would have been grilled