Annual International Sikh Convention - Organised By The Sikh Federation (Uk)

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Promo for the Convention can be seen at http://www.sikhfederation.com

**ONLY 2 WEEKS TO GO**

HAS ANYONE SEEN THE PROMO ON THE SIKH CHANNEL?

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

**ONLY 2 WEEKS TO GO**

HAS ANYONE SEEN THE PROMO ON THE SIKH CHANNEL?

Promo started on the Sikh Channel yesterday. Whilst the words spoken by the presenter are virtually the same the Promo is different.

How does the Promo that is being shown on the Sikh Channel compare to the one online?

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

A letter has been received by the Sikh Federation (UK) from Fabian Hamilton MP the new Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs. This will be included in the 2009-10 booklet that will be released on Sunday 19 September.

The letter will also be released to the media in the next few days and made available on Sikh Sangat.

[NeverForget84dotcom]

Sikh Federation UK should have a youth wing, comprising of Sikh students throughout the UK, as was with Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh's AISSF. It would also build a good foundation for young Sikh's to familiarize themselves with political issues concerning the Sikhs in UK.

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Sikh Federation UK should have a youth wing, comprising of Sikh students throughout the UK, as was with Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh's AISSF. It would also build a good foundation for young Sikh's to familiarize themselves with political issues concerning the Sikhs in UK.

The Sikh Federation (UK) set up Young Sikhs (UK) in September 2004 (one year after launching the Sikh Federation) that was designed to cater for the youth. This has had limited success.

The youth (those born in the UK) have however been brought into the Sikh Federation (UK)'s National Executive Council - sometimes one-third to one-half of the NEC, but many youth understandably want to work in the background.

Every year an attempt is made to bring in fresh blood through nominations and the youth are given a chance to prove themselves and make the break through. The same will hopefully happen this year when the National Executive Council is announced on Sunday 19 September.

The Sikh Federation (UK) has however avoided setting up a 'Sikh student' body as it might be seen as 'competing' with other Sikh student set ups - BOSS, BSSF ETC.

[NeverForget84dotcom]

The Sikh Federation (UK) set up Young Sikhs (UK) in September 2004 (one year after launching the Sikh Federation) that was designed to cater for the youth. This has had limited success.

The youth (those born in the UK) have however been brought into the Sikh Federation (UK)'s National Executive Council - sometimes one-third to one-half of the NEC, but many youth understandably want to work in the background.

Every year an attempt is made to bring in fresh blood through nominations and the youth are given a chance to prove themselves and make the break through. The same will hopefully happen this year when the National Executive Council is announced on Sunday 19 September.

The Sikh Federation (UK) has however avoided setting up a 'Sikh student' body as it might be seen as 'competing' with other Sikh student set ups - BOSS, BSSF ETC.

The Sikh Federation is the only party within UK representing the Sikh community, but it needs to grow. if you feel its best to avoid setting up a new student body, then Sikh Fed should be more involved with the existing ones or make attempts incorporating them within the active party.

If we look at the past, the AISSF was relatively small in numbers before Bhai Amrik Singh became president, which then grew tenfold. It was this same Federation which was able to gather in huge numbers to take part in the agitations and also gave birth to thousands of young Sikhs who fought against the indian govt.

This is what we lack today, the ability to stand united on one platform. The Sikh community CAN and SHOULD BE a very influentual community within the UK, however this is not the case.

On another note, should also be raised at the convention

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Please watch Sikh Channel (Sky 840) - Saturday 11 September 8-9pm (UK time) to get an update on the Convention and various Panthic issues

[sohan singh51]

Please watch Sikh Channel (Sky 840) - Saturday 11 September 8-9pm (UK time) to get an update on the Convention and various Panthic issues

Is the live telecast of the event this year also. Pl give details.

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Please watch Sikh Channel (Sky 840) - Saturday 11 September 8-9pm (UK time) to get an update on the Convention and various Panthic issues

What did you think?

Has been huge demand for letter from the new Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs.

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Letter from the new Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for UK Sikhs to release at the Convention on Sunday 19 September

Below is the letter the Sikh Federation (UK) has obtained from Fabian Hamilton, the new Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for UK Sikhs, to release at the Convention on Sunday 19 September at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Sedgley Street, Wolverhampton.

The letter was mentioned by the Sikh Federation (UK) on the Sikh Channel on the programme on Saturday 11 September between 8-9pm. Emma Reynolds MP the Secretary of the APPG for UK Sikhs will be speaking about priorities at the Convention.

The letter will be re-produced in the Sikh Federation’s 2009-10 booklet, which will also be released on Sunday 19 September.

As indicated on the Sikh Channel programme there will be several other politicians speaking from different political parties and we are expecting some important announcements at the Convention.

Please try and attend.

Gurjeet Singh

Dear Friends,

I am sorry that I am unable to join you for the Sikh Federation’s Annual National Sikh Convention which is taking place on Sunday 19th September in Wolverhampton. I wanted to send my warmest greetings to all your delegates as the newly elected Chair of the All- Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for UK Sikhs. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be following in the footsteps of my dear friend and former colleague Rob Marris.

I thought that you would like to know that our immediate priorities for the APPG are:

• To persuade over 40,000 public bodies systematically to monitor Sikhs as an ethnic group, despite the categories in the 2011 Census. This will ensure a fair provision of public services to the Sikh community

• To make sure that the government keeps its promise to introduce a Code of Practice on Sikh articles of faith that is endorsed by Parliament – a breach of the Code would be taken into account by tribunals and courts when dealing with any dispute arising out of the implementation of the Code

• To press for a radical improvement in how the government engages with the Sikh community through better consultation with organisations like the Sikh Federation (UK)

The APPG also has the challenge of taking up international issues on behalf of UK Sikhs and include:

• Taking up Sikh identity and human rights issues at an international level.

• Ensuring the exclusion from the UK of individuals directly involved in torture, fake encounters, disappearances, genocide and other crimes against humanity.

• Supporting the Sikh campaign for justice for the June and November 1984 massacres.

• Support for a change to Article 25 of the Indian Constitution and laws, such as the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, so the Sikh faith is properly recognised by the Constitution.

• Because of the continued injustices against Sikhs in the Indian sub-continent to support the Sikhs’ legitimate right to national self-determination.

I hope that our priorities meet with your approval and I look forward to a strong working relationship between this Parliament and all Sikhs living in the United Kingdom. Your contribution to the health and welfare of our economy and society is a source of pride to all UK citizens, whether Sikh or non-Sikh.

With all my best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Fabian Hamilton

Labour Member of Parliament for Leeds North East

If anyone needs the signed PDF version of the letter please email info@sikhfederation.com