In an open letter, the Sikh organisations have described Sunak’s “actions” as “extremely worrying set in the backdrop of a pattern of suspicion towards the British Sikh community from the UK government, evidently under pressure from the Indian government”.
Representatives of 230 organisations based in the United Kingdom (UK) have written to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, to express what they described as “the community’s concerns”.
In an open letter, the Sikh organisations have described Sunak’s “actions” as “extremely worrying set in the backdrop of a pattern of suspicion towards the British Sikh community from the UK government, evidently under pressure from the Indian government”.
“This has included aggressive policing of peaceful protests outside the Indian high commission prior to the November 2015 UK visit of PM Narendra Modi and, more recently, the attempted extradition of three Britain-born Sikhs following Indian pressure,” the letter pointed out.
“We look forward to your response to the points raised and are arranging a lobby of Parliament for mid-May 2023 on Sikhs right to self-determination to demonstrate the strength of feeling of the British Sikh community.”
The open letter added: “We urge you as PM to explain why you have reneged on assurances given by (former British PM) Boris Johnson to the British Sikh community in July 2022 including the unexplained U-turn on the alleged detention of Jagtar Singh Johal in an Indian jail since November 2017.”
July 7, 2022 letter to Sikh Federation chair Amrik Singh, had promised to continue to work with the Indian government to resolve Johal’s case.
The Sikh organisations added that they did not ask for special treatment, equal treatment.
“We look forward to your response to the points raised and are arranging a lobby of Parliament for mid-May 2023 on Sikhs right to self-determination to demonstrate the strength of feeling of the British Sikh community,” the organisations wrote.
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