"The vilification of Sikhs" - PR by NSYF in response to Indian media reporting

[Pyara]

At last, a UK based Sikh Organisation has taken the initiative to write an official PR in response to all the crass Indian media reporting of last week. Well done NSYF.

http://nsyf.org.uk/news/vilification-of-sikhs/

The vilification of Sikhs

Oct 8by Shamsher

During the recent events surrounding retired Lt.Gen K.S. Brar, there has been hysterical reporting by certain sections of the Indian media. While the Indian media is not exactly a paragon of impartiality and balanced reporting, the recent coverage has left most readers we have spoken to in disbelief. It varies from misreporting and hysteria, to publishing material that is simply false.

This has created a potentially dangerous situation, in a country where religious differences can be easily exploited for political gain, and where there is well documented history of these differences spilling over into communal violence. Today after a week of arrests and investigation we have learned that two Sikh men have been charged with “wounding with the intent to do grievous bodily harm”, a full week after the incident on 30th September. During the initial investigation UK Police did not comment on the religion or ethnicity of the individuals it was detaining for questioning. This is in stark contrast with the Indian media who began with reports of unidentified assailants on the 1st of Oct. This then developed into reports of “four bearded men” on the 2nd; by the 3rd it had descended into a full scale international conspiracy in which law abiding Sikh organisations, including religious, charitable and political bodies were labelled as being linked to ‘terrorism’. This situation has been used to make unfounded allegations in the wider Indian media of the rise of Sikh extremism globally, no doubt to justify the recent arrests and torture of Sikh political activists in the Punjab, which prompted Human Rights Watch to call on the government of India for an investigation and to “promptly enact the Prevention of Torture bill and…take immediate steps to implement its provisions, including ending all torture and ill-treatment by security forces and prosecuting those responsible”.

The most shocking comments came in reports that featured remarks from Foreign Office (FCO) Minister Hugo Swire (the minister is in charge of trade with India). The minister was reported to have said “It (the attack on Brar) is of great concern to the United Kingdom. We don’t want these people here exporting their terrorist views because they represent a real threat to people in the UK apart from anything else”. Given the way the Indian media has handled this incident these remarks give the impression that the minister was referring to Sikhs in general. The NSYF Press Office contacted the FCO for clarification, and in a statement issued to the NSYF the FCO made it clear that “The Minister’s comments were quite clearly referring to the perpetrators of this crime and were not directed towards any community”. They further commented that they “…don’t have any control in the way the (Indian) media is reporting this incident”, and that interpreting them in this way was “completely incorrect”.

The NSYF Press Office will be providing a full analysis of the reporting in this incident, and writing to individual news agencies about the misrepresented facts of the Indian army invasion of Amritsar code named ‘operation blue star’.

[JasSinghKhalsa]

They further commented that they “…don’t have any control in the way the (Indian) media is reporting this incident”, and that interpreting them in this way was “completely incorrect”.

The NSYF Press Office will be providing a full analysis of the reporting in this incident, and writing to individual news agencies about the misrepresented facts of the Indian army invasion of Amritsar code named ‘operation blue star’.

If somebody from NSYF is reading this post, or somebody in contact with NSYF, it is worth noting that fundamental Hindutva media such as NDTV/ABP News/AajTak/Zee News braodcasting in the UK are hence regulated by Ofcom, so their reporting should be based on facts, and opinions/views are viewer's views. Although they try their level best in India to project Sikhs/Muslims/Christians as terrorists and Hindus as holy people burning these terrorists alive by putting tyres in their necks, demolishing their religious places. these media broadcast of the same programme's in UK should be reported.

Remember - Any community in India asking for justice either living in India or abroad is declared a terrorist .

[Into the Light]

^{We so need this...but to ensure the longetvity, i agree twe should have a fully paid individual and not just based on good will.}

^{Excellent idea...i will def support this initiative!}

[Pyara]

^{We so need this...but to ensure the longetvity, i agree twe should have a fully paid individual and not just based on good will.}

^{Excellent idea...i will def support this initiative!}

In the absence of any established UK Sikh Organisation taking any lead whatsoever in the last week during which the global Sikh image just got openly crapped on by the Indian media, we need to stand together and support the NSYF initiative as a media task force to combat and tackle the continuous Indian media slur and misinformation being generated by the elites.

Established SCUK, SFUK, BSC, NSO etc, clearly lack the capacity and acumen to steer this.

[Angrez]

Any reps from the established jathebandies who keep telling us not to be too critcal as they are doing a lot behind the scenes. I'm sorry, but I salute NSYF for stepping up.

We know SCUK are working with Shepherds Bush gurdwara, but it would be good to see some statement however brief. We are into the second week and we have seen no response from any of our so-called panthic leaders. Are these your true colours when at the time of need you all hide.

[NSYF]

Waheguru, thank you for the support we will strive to promote education on Sikh political history, and counter anti-Sikh press.

www.nsyf.org.uk