What Can Sikhs Outside Of India Do Now With Immediate Effect?

[Nirvair S Khalsa]

What Can Sikhs Outside Of India Do Now With Immediate Effect?

EMAIL YOUR MP AND CREATE AWARENESS

To obtain a standard letter to send to your MP about the Ludhiana incident, email info@SikhFederation.com now. It is the least those outside of India can do. Please pass this message to all your contacts by text, email, forums, and mailing groups.

Other ideas apart from the very important task above are welcome to be stated and discussed in this topic. All news related discussion is requested to be kept in the other main thread.

[Nirvair S Khalsa]

Those who manage to successfully engage their local MP are requested to email info@SikhFederation.com and post information in this topic.

[Nirvair S Khalsa]

On Sunday night (6.12.09), the Sikh Federation (UK) contacted Rt. Hon. Rob Marris MP (Chair of the APPG for UK Sikhs) who in this capacity, has written to Rt. Hon. David Miliband MP (Foreign Secretary) as a matter of urgency.

A copy of the letter from Rob Marris to David Miliband is reproduced below:

Dear David,

Deaths of protesters in Ludhiana, Punjab

Saturday 5 December 2009

I write as Chair of the APPG for UK Sikhs.

I understand that, on Saturday 5 December 2009, police and paramilitary forces in India opened fire to stop Sikh protesters, belonging to Sikh religious organisations, marching towards a controversial anti-Sikh two-day event organised in Ludhiana by Dera Divya Jyoti of Ashutosh; and that at least one Sikh has been killed, and about 15 seriously injured. Sadly, the death toll is expected to increase.

Understandably, there has been grave disquiet in Punjab and around the world at the actions of the Indian police and paramilitary forces. Despite an indefinite curfew in the city, thousands of Sikhs are said to be preparing to travel to Ludhiana to participate in further protests.

Sikhs are particularly upset as what they interpret as double standards and deliberate provocation of Sikhs. On Thursday and Friday 3 and 4 December 2009, following a minor incident, there was widespread arson and violence by migrant workers across Ludhiana, yet it is suggested that this was permitted without any action taken by the police. Conversely, the protest march by Sikh religious organisations on Saturday 5 December was met with the use of tear gas, batons, and then live ammunition.

Sikh religious organisations have called for a peaceful bandh (closure) in Ludhiana, and legal cases to be registered against Ashutosh and against Harish Bedi MLA, who is alleged to have himself fired shots at Sikh protesters. Meanwhile the Punjab government, recognising the seriousness of the situation, has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

I should be grateful if you, or one of your colleagues, could make urgent representations to the government of India, asking them what steps they are taking to calm the situation, and to ensure that an impartial and independent investigation is carried out in the near future.

In due course, please could I be informed as to the response of the Union government?

Yours sincerely,

Rob Marris

MP for Wolverhampton South West

[Gurmat Sangeet]

Lord Ahmed was also contacted and this is his reply

Dear Mr *********

Thank you for your email, I am deeply concerned with the attacks on Sikh communities in Ludhiana, Punjab.

I will raise this matter with Rt Hon David Miliband MP

Regards

Nazir

Lord Ahmed has raised sikh issues in the house in the past such as the massacre of 35 singhs in kashmir before President Clintons visit to india in 2000. he also knows and understands the devious ways of the bjp as he has raised a voice against their trechery in the babri mosque issue.

[fists_of_fury]

I and others have contacted Fiona Mactaggart, still awaiting any sort of replies.

Please note I used to be like everyone else and think whats the point of all this email, letter business, however nowdays this is crucial as well as being active physically etc etc.

[HarpreetKaur]

Reply from John Hemming:

"I will raise this issue with the Foreign Secretary"

and K Grinsell:

"Thank you for your email. I have forwarded it to the office of Malcolm

Harbour

who is the MEP for Birmingham. He will reply to you as soon as possible.

Kind regards,

Karen Grinsell"

[Azaad]

The office of Khalid Mahmood MP has been contacted but again I have received no reply

[BhaiSukhSingh]

VaheGuruJeKaKhalsaVaheGuruJeKeFetah

sangat jee yes 6 singhs were shaheed and i feel there familys pain now we will be e-mail phone protesting for change ????? yes ???? but lets ask the question what has been about Bow ???? Where DHAN DHAN SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB MAHARAJ gave his shaheed where has e-mail phone sending letters to our MPs got us. and lets not start talking about protesting we know how messed up that was.

25 years of protesting marching in london e-mail have been sent to priminsters i know of cosons who mailed George Bush Tony Blair and what has happened NOTHING.

So lets get with it this is not working and never will to the west they rather be dealing with Gun crime in london the drug problam in liverpool the high unemployment you recon ur local MP is worried bout them 6 Singhs Shaheedi and there family ye rite they rather be dealing with cover there back regards the expences scandels.

My fellow Brothers and sister in the west lets stop having phone in on sikh channel stop posting on what we can do 6000 miles away and lets start acting reading more bani asking VaheGuru to forgive us for what we have done that has brought this tradegy on the Panth.

But most of all in my opinion lets go back to where we come from where our roots are lets stand hand in hand sholder to sholder and say NO to injustice, fake baba anti sikhi sect. Why did them Singhs have to give shaheedi why was not me and you.

Its all good jumping on ur lappy or your compuer in your warm house and saying lets do this or lets do that anyone can do that but being there ready to die for your panth is another thing its time to wake up its now or never we have not got Jutice in the last 25 yrs for 84 and mark my words we will not even in the next 50 the way we are going.

Lets unite as one under The Nashan Sahib

Jhooo Ghaj Ke Gajavea Nihal Ho Javea Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Gobind Singh New Man New Pavea Sat Sri Akallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

VaheGuruJeKaKhalsaVaheGuruJeKeFetah

[agiaan andhhaeraa]

Whats that website called again where you can get contact details for your mp?

sikh feds doing good job - keep it up!

[ladli-fauj]

i have contacted fremont gurdwara el sobrante gurdwara and printed out fliers to post and handout in gurdwaras. I have contacted cnn but seems like we need to contact more polititions.