Sikh Federation UK Birmingham Branch

[Panthic]

Sikh Federation U.K.(Birmingham Branch – Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick)

16th May 2004

RE: BBC Asian Network Program Tuesday 11th May 2004 at 10.00am Presented by

Sonia Deol

The Sikh Federation UK Birmingham Branch would like to express how disgusted it felt after hearing of what had been said on Tuesday 11th May 2004 on the BBC Asian Network program presented by Sonia Deol.

The comments made by a young girl (who wasn’t a Sikh), who was talking on live on air deeply saddened, shocked and created anger in Sikhs across the country. The girl clearly spoke wrong and against the Sikh religion and against Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and against Sikh Guru’s yet, she had said that she had studied the Sikh religion but could not even pronounce Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s name correct and called him “Guru Nanak Singh” which was not stopped by Sonia, live on air.

The Federation Birmingham Branch totally condemn all action, we condemn the comments made by the caller (young girl), the action taken by the Presenter Sonia Deol and by the BBC. Religious hated was preached on the BBC Asian Network.

If this has happened now, how do we know this will not happen again?

Production Teams are said to have done research, but how? When there is not a single Sikh in your Production team?

We would like you to take action on this very serious matter.

Yours sincerely,

Malkit Singh Tehang

(President, Sikh Federation Birmingham)

Sikh Federation U.K. (Birmingham Branch – Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick)

128-130 High Street, Smethwick, Warley, West Midlands B66 3AP

E-MAIL: sikhfederationbirmingham@yahoo.co.uk or federation@gngsmethwick.c

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[SSB]

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw!

vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

Bhaji ji how can we help ?