Sikh Lobby Day 2005

[rKr]

Please contact your constituency MPs as soon as possible to inform them that you will be taking part in the Sikh Lobby Day on Wednesday 9 March 2005 and would like your MP to:

meet you in the Central Lobby of the Houses of Parliament between 1.30-3.00pm

attend the meeting in Committee Room 10, between 3-5pm, where MPs and Lords will be asked questions on a range of issues of concern to Sikhs

The Sikh Lobby Day is about 2 weeks away - it is best to ring your MPs and make arrangements for them to be available to take part. You can contact your MPs office in Westminster by ringing 020 7219 3000 and asking for your MP.

Alternatively, you can ring the constituency office of your MP to make arrangements, write to your MP at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA or fax your MP using an on-line facility by visiting www.faxyourmp.com

A special appeal is made by Young Sikhs to University Sikh Societies and Sikh University students in and around London to take part in this lobby. The timing of the lobby should be convenient for students who are often free on a Wednesday afternoon. As a student you may have the added advantage of being able to meet two MPs using your home and term time addresses. Also bring along non-Sikh friends who may be interested in joining you at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster and supporting Sikhs.

It is imperative that Sikhs from different towns and cities throughout the UK are represented at the Sikh Lobby Day to try and get the maximum coverage of MPs. This is particularly important prior to the next General Election. You will know there are many local, national and international issues concerning Sikhs that you can raise. Three or four specific issues will be covered by speakers in Committee Room 10 between 3-5pm.

A short briefing note will be available from 3 March 2005 for those attending and can be obtained by emailing sikhfederationuk@yahoo.co.uk. The note will also be distributed on the Sikh Lobby Day to all those taking part.

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One thing people should remember when contacting their local MPs is - we already know more about what we're asking then they do. It's our time to let them know our views. A lot of us are scared about contacting our local MP / MEPs as we're not sure what to say, how to say it - but we're the ones informing them about our issues - and they need us more so than we need them - so please use this opportunity - as it may be the last one we get to air certain issues.

Young Sikhs UK are urging ALL Young Sikhs to take part in this event, if you would like any help with arranging transport to the event, then please contact YS_LEIC@yahoo.co.uk / YS_LEIC@hotmail.co.uk so the sevadaars can assist in arranging this for you.

The Sikh Lobby day on November 11 2004 was a real shock for all MPs, and Young Sikhs also, half the turnout in Committe Room was Youngsters! We need to show a lot of people, including our elders that the buck does not stop with them, and we will carry the can and continue the work for our rights.

Its impertive that we take part in such days and make out voice heard - especially with the elections coming up - we have to ask the questions as Sikhs:

What have you done for us? and What are you doing for us?

Young Sikhs (UK) wil soon be entering into dialogue with some MPs from the Midlands in a fortcoming radio show - it would be good if we could all partake - this is our right.

For more info: Contact YS on 07984 865 173

Forgive me for my many mistakes.

[rKr]

Please, Please, Please do not think of this as just another Sikh Federation event, because this affects us ALL.

The impact of turning up to events like Lobby Days will affect the UK Sikh Community as a whole.

We're the first ones who need to get up and fight for our rights with the sword of knowledge - lets not waste this opportunity we have...

SIKH LOBBY DAY

MAKING THE SIKH VOTE COUNT

Wednesday 9 March 2005 between 1.30-5.00pm

Houses of Parliament, London

Many MPs have written to the Sikh Federation (UK) confirming their wish to meet Sikh constituents taking part in the Sikh Lobby Day on Wednesday 9 March 2005. Sikhs wishing to meet their local MP are requested to contact and make arrangements with their MP as soon as possible. Sikhs taking part in the lobby will be assembling outside St Stephen's entrance and the lobby will take place in the Central Lobby of the Houses of Parliament between 1.30-3.00pm.

Following the lobby Rob Marris the Labour MP for Wolverhampton South West will be hosting a public meeting at the House of Commons in Committee Room 10 from 3-5pm. He has confirmed the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department - Fiona Mactaggart the Labour MP for Slough - is hoping to take part in the public meeting and will be available to answer questions that Sikhs may have. Fiona Mactaggart is the Minister that has been responding on behalf of the UK Government to issues relating to Sikhs, raised in recent debates and in Parliamentary Questions. Many have commented that her responses to a lot of the issues raised have not been satisfactory. The Sikh Lobby Day therefore should provide an ideal opportunity to put questions to her and other MPs.

The Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Oliver Heald the Conservative MP for North East Hertfordshire has also written to the Sikh Federation (UK) and indicated he looks forward to meeting Sikh constituents on the Sikh Lobby Day and addressing Sikh representatives in Committee Rooom 10. On the last Sikh Lobby Day in November 2004, in what was an unprecedented move, some will recall that Oliver Heald asked the Deputy Leader of the House, at the start of Business in the House of Commons, to join him to welcome the Sikh community to Westminster. Oliver Heald was clearly impressed by Sikh activism at the last Sikh Lobby Day - particularly from Young Sikhs.

Many MPs are now familiar with the Memorandum of Understanding produced and distributed by the Sikh Federation (UK) and are aware of the proposal to announce at this Sikh Lobby Day the formation of a new All Party Parliamentary Group representing the interests of British Sikhs. There is little doubt that large numbers of MPs will join the new group, especially from towns and cities with large numbers of Sikh constituents, such as, Bedford, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Coventry, Croydon, Derby, Dudley, Glasgow, Gravesend, Leamington, Leeds, Leicester, London, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Reading, Slough, Southampton, Swindon, Telford, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

However, the diversity and interest in the Sikh Lobby Day and formation of the new Parliamentary group to represent the interests of British Sikhs is indicated in the MPs that have written to the Sikh Federation (UK) in the last few days - Alan Keen the Labour MP for Feltham and Heston, Anne McGuire the Labour MP for Sterling, Nick Palmer the Labour MP for Broxtowe (Nottingham), Peter Bottomley the Conservative MP for Worthing West, Nigel Jones the Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham, Ann McKinon the Labour MP for Glasgow Maryhill, Sydney Rapson the Labour MP for Portsmouth North, Christine McCafferty the Labour MP for Calder Valley, Dr Rudolph Vis the Labour MP for Finchley & Golders Green, Mike Gapes the Labour MP for Ilford South, Bill Tynan the Labour MP for Hamilton South, Dame Marion Roe the Conservative MP for Broxbourne, Rt Hon Nick Brown the ex-Labour Minister for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend.

Ensure you have a copy of the Memorandum when you take part in the Sikh Lobby Day as some MPs that have yet to sign the Memorandum have indicated they want to do this on Wednesday 9 March when Sikh representatives from their constituency come to meet them. Copies of the Memorandum can be downloaded from www.sikhfederation.com. Do not miss this historic Sikh Lobby Day and contact your MP to ensure they agree to join the new British Sikhs APPG.

[rKr]

Some questions were raised re: Transport, see following:

In the first message relating to the Sikh Lobby Day it was stressed it was more important to have Sikhs from different towns and cities throughout the UK represented at the Sikh Lobby Day to try and get the maximum coverage of MPs. This is more important than absolute numbers. However, I understand a coach is being organised from Leicester due to the level of interest. This is a great credit to Sikhs in Leicester.

From information available many other towns and cities will be sending 5-10 reps (a car or mini-bus load).

Town and cities likely to be represented include:

Barking, Bedford, Birmingham, Bristol, Coventry, Croydon, Derby, Dudley, East Ham, Gravesend, Hayes, Hounslow, Ilford, Leamington, Leicester, London, Luton, Nottingham, Reading, Slough, Southall, Southampton, Stafford, Swindon, Telford, Walsall and Wolverhampton

Sikhs in towns and cities further north (e.g. Bradford, Doncaster, Glasgow, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle etc.) have been urged to contact MPs locally if they find it difficult to attend. However, given the interest from MPs in the North it would be great if a car or van load could come from Leeds/Bradford/Huddersfield.

Please forward this message to friends and relatives, other egroups etc. - this is a great opportunity for Sikhs to put across our concerns.

ALSO: A few of us of Young Sikhs UK (LEICS) are travelling by Train in the morning and are more than happy to meet up with people at London St Pancras, making our way to central london together - anybody who wishes to meet up with us, PM myself or Kaur_Kiran penji and we'll see you there!! :umm:

[Singh_Shiromani]

Yes i think we should all participate in Panthic issues like these.

More and more sangat should come, if you need transport i'm sure your local Gurdwara Sahib will be more than happy to help.

[All-Info]

Coach from coventry is booked and confirmed.

I am hoping GNP Gurdwara will assist in money for the coach, find out tonite, if not please can everyone who is coming from cov bring some money please and help donate as the person who booked the coach will pay from his pocket. We should not expect one person to do this when we are all able to pay!

Coach will leave cov about 9.45am and be back for around 8pm (depending on traffic obviously)

Please try attend the day - that goes for everyone not jst coventry!!!!

Thanks

Please pm for more details.

WJKK WJKF

all-info

http://www.all-info.us

[rKr]

Please be aware - don't just attend - FAX YOUR MP!!

We need to constituancy to be represented at the Lobby.

[All-Info]

Where are the people meeting when they get to london??

It would be pointless if many people meet in one place and then another group turn up and dont know what to do with themselves... Especially if they are just coming down with not enough knowledge of what to do when get to london.

Thanks

All-Info

[rKr]

David Taylor MP and Paramjit Singh Gill MP become the first two MPs to table Parliamentary Questions after yesterday's Sikh Lobby Day

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Office's policy is on the wearing of the Kirpan by Sikh employees.

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what the Department's policy is on the wearing of the Kirpan by Sikh employees.

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on the wearing of the Kirpan by Sikh employees.

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his Department's policy is on the wearing of the Kirpan by Sikh employees.

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's policy is on the wearing of the Kirpan by Sikh employees.

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the wearing of the Kirpan by Sikh employees.

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his Department's policy is on the wearing of the Kirpan by Sikh employees.

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his Department's policy is on the wearing of the Kirpan by Sikh employees.

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people currently employed by the Civil Service state their religion as Sikh.

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Indian Government on the UN Convention against torture.

David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Indian government concerning the recent violent attacks on members of the Sikh community of Chattisgarh.

Mr Parmjit Singh Gill (Leicester South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to revise the statutuory code of practice to ensure that all public bodies recognise and monitor Sikhs for the purposes of the Race Relations Act 2000.

Circulate this message to others to show LOBBYING is a positive action that Sikhs should repeat up and down the country.