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Worldwide Candlelit Vigils Calling For Justice For The November 1984 Victims Of Anti-sikh Pogroms


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Excellent work by Sikhs in the West Midlands

It would be great if Sikhs in the West Midlands could bring banners down for the Lobby and vigil in London tomorrow.

SIKH LOBBY DAY - 2 NOVEMBER 2006: BREIFING

At the Sikh Lobby of Parliament on Thursday 2 November 2006 (2-4pm) we will be raising four issues:

- 22nd anniversary of the November 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms

- Census 2011

- 5-point action plan presented to MPs in September

- discrimination against Balihar Singh (senior Sikh police officer)

Briefings are available for the last three issues if you email info@sikhfederation.com.

The lobby will be followed by a candlelit vigil between 4-7.30pm. Please ring your MP as soon as possible on 0207 219 3000 and tell them you will be coming to lobby them on Thursday 2 November 2006 between 2-4pm and ask them to join Sikhs for the vigil for about 15 minutes between 4.00-7.30pm.

Please bring candles, matches and any 1984 related banners and placards.

Considering the issues to be raised Is it asking too much if one Sikh from each town/constituency attends the lobby and vigil on Thursday 2 November?

Gurjeet Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

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...From todays Birmingham Mail Online...

(Also reproduced in hard copy newspaper with picture)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sikhs in city centre massacres tribute

Nov 2 2006

MEMBERS of the Sikh community gathered in Birmingham to

remember those killed during the Indian massacres of 1984.

Hundreds of people gathered in Chamberlain Square for a

candlelit vigil in memory of the anti-Sikh uprisings in India

22 years ago.

Organised by the Sikh Federation and the Young Sikhs, the

service included members of the faith from Birmingham,

Wolverhampton, Walsall and Coventry.

As well as being an act of remembrance, Sikhs asked for

justice by creating awareness of the atrocities in India

hidden from the wider world.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOURCE: http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/tm_headline=sikhs-in-city-centre-massacres-tribute%26method=full%26objectid=18033266%26siteid=50002-name_page.html

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

d_oh.gif Vaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa, Vaheguroo Jee Kee Phateh!!! d_oh.gif

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It total there were probably around 80-100 Sikhs yesterday at the candlelit vigil outside the UK Parliament in London. At its peak the vigil had around 60 Sikhs with around 250-300 candles being lit at the vigil.

Photographs are likely to be posted later this evening.

Sikhs started arriving at 2pm for the Sikh Lobby where the following four issues were raised:

- 22nd anniversary of the November 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms

- Census 2011

- 5-point action plan presented to MPs in September at the National Sikh Convention

- Discrimination against Balihar Singh (senior Sikh police officer in Manchester)

This included a delegation of 10-12 Sikhs from Derby who held a meeting with Mark Todd MP. The Sikhs from Derby were also proactive in raising their concerns with Rt. Hon. Margaret Beckett MP, the Foreign Secretary, with regards to November 1984 before she left for her trip to India. It will be interesting in the follow up meeting with her to see if she raised the matter in her trip and if not, why not.

A meeting was held at 3pm with several of the office bearers of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for UK Sikhs. Rob Marris MP the Chair of the APPG and two of the Vice Chairs, Dominic Grieve MP, the Shadow Attorney General and John Spellar MP. A number of actions were agreed at the meeting and at subsequent discussions at the candlelit vigil.

The lobby took place from 2-4pm and was followed by a vigil from 4.00-7.30pm. Several of us were there from the start to the finish and distributed around 3,000 postcards and other literature.

It would have been great if the vigil in London had attracted many more Sikhs from in and around London. However, the importance of holding a vigil that also attracted politicians and raising awareness with non-Sikhs should not be underestimated. It would have been even better if one or two Sikhs from as many towns/cities/constituencies had arranged to lobby their MPs and encouraged them to take part in the vigil.

The organisers had informed police when applying for the vigil there would be 75-100 Sikhs and this was a reasonable and realistic estimate given the vigils in other parts of the UK. This reflected the numbers we planned to take part. If we were planning to bring 400+ Sikhs it would have been unlikely that we would have received permission under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act Designated Area that imposes restrictions on 'demonstrations' within one square mile of Parliament.

The many youngsters that too part in the lobby and/or vigil from in and around London and the Sikhs from Slough that brought the two eye catching banners should be congratulated.

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