Sikhs angry at UK PM’s iciness over 1984 massacre

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Sikhs angry at UK PMs iciness over 1984 massacre

Thursday, February 21, 2013

LONDON: The Sikhs in Britain have expressed anger over the British Prime Minister David Camerons failure to sympathise with the Sikhs for the events of June 1984 when the Indian Army used tanks and artillery to attack the Harmander Sahib, the Golden Temple Complex in Amritsar to kill thousands of innocent Sikh pilgrims.

Sikh Federation (UK) said that there was a lot of talk about the 1919 Amritsar massacre and while it was welcome David Cameron expressed sorrow over that tragedy but with an eye on trade deals the PM didnt utter a word about Indias own massacre in Amritsar in June 1984.

Prime Minister said at the Temple: This was a deeply shameful event in the British history - one that Winston Churchill rightly described at the time as monstrous. We must never forget what happened here. And in remembering, we must ensure that the United Kingdom stands up for the right to peaceful protest anywhere in the world.

Gurjeet Singh, Sikh Federations spokesman said PM Cameron has not won over Sikhs to his party and it will hurt his party in the constituencies where Sikhs live in large numbers. Singh said the Conservatives should realise that the 1984 massacre is far more important than the 1919 massacre given that the majority of British Sikhs are born in the UK and the events of 1984 are very fresh in their minds and many of those who perpetrated those killings of innocent Sikh pilgrims have not been punished.

Bhai Amrik Singh, the chairman of the Sikh Federation (UK) said Sikhs would have greatly appreciated a public apology from the British Prime Minister for the bloody massacre in Amritsar. He said it is on record that he along with around another 180 UK MPs specifically supported opposition against the death penalty against Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and called for his release by signing an Early Day Motion before he became leader of the Conservatives and Prime Minister. Prime Minister Cameron, he said, should have used this opportunity to reach out to the British Sikhs and demonstrate the UK will not be constantly blackmailed by threats to trade deals by India.

David Cameron also failed to publicly condemn India for two hangings in the last three months and the growing trend to hang others despite many letters from UK MPs prior to his visit to condemn India for moving in this direction.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-161264-Sikhs-angry-at-UK-PMs-iciness-over-1984-massacre