Issues Raised At The Sikh Lobby Of Uk Parliament

[Nirvair S Khalsa]

ISSUES RAISED AT THE SIKH LOBBY OF UK PARLIAMENT

Some of the Sikhs with the Ealing Southall MP Virendra Sharma, who along with many other MPs agreed to support Sikhs on all the issues being raised

On Thursday 19 November around 150 Sikh representatives took part in a lobby at the Houses of Parliament. Over 200 MPs were contacted prior to the lobby and over 100 MPs, including Ministers were lobbied on the day itself. Meetings were held with around 25-30 MPs or their assistants, including:

John Austin, Paramjit Dhanda, Mike Gapes, Sandra Gidley, Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, Alan Keen, Ann Keen, John Lancaster, Bob Laxton, Fiona Mactaggart, Mike O'Brien, Virendra Sharma, Dr Phyllis Starkey, Mark Todd and Keith Vaz.

Five issues were raised during the lobby:

i) the campaign for separate ethnic monitoring of Sikhs for the Census 2011 where the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is ignoring the needs of the Sikh community

MPs were requested to copy their Sikh constituents all correspondence with Jil Matheson the new head of the Office for National Statistics (ONS). MPs were informed an Early Day Motion (EDM) would be tabled and that they would be urged to support. If Parliamentary protocol or other reasons prevent them from signing the EDM a letter of support was requested.

ii) the need for a Code of Practice on Sikh articles of faith where the UK Government has been dragging its heels for four and half years and Sikhs are experiencing more and more difficulties Kara, Kirpan, Turban (Dastaar) etc.

Parliamentary Questions were raised with all Government Departments and raised in Parliamentary Debate in April 2005. The UK Government promised at that time in Parliament a Code of Practice, but then changed its mind after the General Election. The Government was again reminded in December 2006 in Parliamentary Debate by MPs from all the main political parties of its promise.

Despite considerable political pressure and numerous individual cases of discrimination the UK Government is still in the process of developing a Code of Practice. Following the lobby the relevant Minister confirmed the Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is taking forward work on developing the Code of Practice in partnership with the Department for Communities and local Government (DCLG). The Home Office and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) are also participating. The Code is expected in early 2010.

iii) the increased discrimination being experienced by turban wearing Sikhs at various airports in Europe

MPs were informed a Sikh lobby was planned at the European Parliament for March 2010 and urged to write to the Europe Minister to arrange with UK MEPs to host the lobby and raise awareness on Sikh articles of faith throughout Europe where Sikhs are being discriminated.

iv) the death penalty case of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar

MPs were requested to provide copies of their correspondence with : i) the German Embassy in the UK; ii) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; iii) the European Parliament President; and iv) the EC Commissioner for External Relations.

v) the need for the UK Government to stop providing visas to those involved in the Genocide of Sikhs in November 1984

Following the successful campaign to have Jagdish Tytler dropped from the delegation to visit the UK a note was provided to MPs supplying details of a number of leading Indian politicians and police officers implicated in the November 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms. MPs were urged to request the UK Government and other EU member states to exclude entry to these individuals.