LONDON, UK—The UK Government caved into the Indian Government’s pressure 30 years ago by interfering and preventing Sikhs from celebrating the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Margaret Thatcher, Geoffrey Howe and Leon Britton feared Sikhs may use the occasion to raise voices of protest regarding the truth of the November 1984 Sikh Genocide. On Sunday 18 November 1984, exactly 30 years ago today, Sikhs wanted to celebrate the birth of the first Sikh Guru by holding a Nagar Kirtan, a procession led by the Panj Piare (the five beloved ones) followed by the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the holy Sikh scriptures. The Nagar Kirtan would have involved the singing of hymns on route in central London and they are held without incident every year in many towns and cities throughout the UK and across the globe where there are a sizeable number of Sikhs.
However, 30 years ago the Foreign Secretary, Geoffrey Howe stated in a full Cabinet meeting on 15 November 1984 that if the religious procession took place on 18 November ‘it would create the danger not only of inter-communal violence in the United Kingdom, but of profoundly serious repercussions on relations between the United Kingdom and India including, for example, a possible trade boycott.’ There was no possibility of inter-communal violence, the only worry was trade with India.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner had to assess the risk of public disorder and then decide whether to ask the Home Secretary, Leon Britton to ban the Nagar Kirtan. The minutes of the Cabinet meeting on 15 November show Geoffrey Howe stated: ‘In view of the importance of the British political and commercial interests at stake, it would be necessary to explore every possibility of preventing the march from taking place.’
Margaret Thatcher, the Prime Minister summed up the discussion by stating: ‘the Government, faced with the possible consequences of a Sikh march in London, should not remain passive’ and suggested even a postponement of the Nagar Kirtan ‘offered no satisfactory solution’ implying there should be a ban.
The Cabinet meeting minutes of 22 November 1984 shed more light on Indian Government pressure and the failure of the UK Government at the time to stand up to Indian intimidation. Geoffrey Howe stated: ‘the British High Commission in New Delhi had reported continuing threats in Indian governmental circles of a trade boycott in the event of behaviour by the Sikh community in the United Kingdom which the Indians might regard as provocative. This posed a serious risk: export contracts worth £5 billion could be at stake. The march by Sikhs in Central London, which had been due to take place on 18 November, had been banned (by the Home Secretary).’
Bhai Amrik Singh, Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK), said:
What happen exactly 30 years ago today was scandalous. India successfully interfered in the rights of British Sikhs to hold a religious procession worried we may exercise our democratic right to protest about the November 1984 Sikh Genocide. Margaret Thatcher is not alive today to answer questions, but Geoffrey Howe and Lean Britton owe an explanation and apology to the British Sikh community.
30 years later Sikhs have still not had justice for the November 1984 Sikh Genocide and are holding a series of awareness raising events to continue to exert pressure on UK politicians to compel the Modi Government to take action.
Gurjeet Singh National Press Secretary
Sikh Federation (UK)
Sikh Federation (UK)
We Sikhs can barely see and understand the world beyond our birth era Mughal history .
The big boy games Empires play will not be easily understood by the simpleton child like Sikhs till much water has flown down the River Thames and Sutlej .
This was hardly a genocide. What the Jews underwent under the Nazi empire is what is called a real Genocide.
You may call it a trailer at the best .