:dateline:The Sikh Council UK organised and facilitated a Panthik Meeting at Gurdwara Amrit Parchar Dharmik Diwan, Oldbury on Sunday 19th January 2014.
The meeting took place in response to the recent disclosure of documents relating to UK Government involvement in the 1984 attack by the Indian Army on the Golden Temple Complex including Sri Harmandir Sahib and Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Amritsar.
With over 200 delegates attending, representing the length and breadth of the UK including all ages and affiliations the meeting was deemed a huge success. The meeting was conducted in an atmosphere of continued injustice towards the Sikhs, with UK-born Sikhs additionally disappointed that their own Government had been involved in some capacity.
Over 25 delegates addressed the meeting expressing their views and opinions with speakers focussing their thoughts on next steps to seeking a full disclosure of the Government�s involvement.
Chair of Indian Sub-Continent Affairs Sub-Committee of Sikh Council UK, Cllr Gurdial Singh Atwal said, �There was a general feeling that the eyes of the world are looking towards UK Sikhs to respond robustly and persistently in seeking the truth. It was recognised that the steps taken to date by the Sikh Council UK and other Sikh organisations and individuals may only be the first on what may become a long battle for information and apology at both national and international levels. �
He added, �It was agreed that it is essential for Sikh organisations to pool their resources and skills and for the Sikh Council UK to establish a �steering group� consisting of representatives of all groups and jathebandis which will bring together the work of individual groups and jathebandis in relation to this issue.�
Key Points:
- The events of 1984 that led to the deaths of so many innocent Sikhs must be recognised as an act of Genocide as defined by the UN Charter on Human Rights.
- The Sikhs rights to campaign, lobby and demonstrate to achieve our objectives is an absolute right in line with our Human Rights.
- A call for an independent inquiry led by cross party backbench MP�s into all aspects of UK Government involvement before, during and after the attack on the Golden Temple as well as during the ensuing State of Emergency and during and after the Sikh genocide following Indira Gandhi�s assassination in October 1984.
- A call for an international UN led inquiry into the events of 1984 in India including before, during and after the attack on the Golden Temple as well as during the ensuing State of Emergency and during and after the Sikh genocide following Indira Gandhi�s assassination in October 1984.
- The pursuit of full disclosure of all documents and facts in relation to UK Government involvement before, during and after the attack on the Golden Temple as well as during the ensuing State of Emergency and during and after the Sikh genocide following Indira Gandhi�s assassination in October 1984 should be continued.
Midlands Regional Co-ordinator for Sikh Council UK, Jagtar Singh Gill said, �The actions of the Panth as one united voice over the last few days has had a massive impact in raising the profile of 1984 in the media across the world. Sikhs are still feeling the pain thirty years on but with so many Sikh organisations working together I feel we can achieve an outcome that will act as a legacy for future generations.�
The Sikh Council UK (SCUK) is the largest representative body of Sikhs in the UK. We are recognised as the national advocate for British Sikhs in the United Kingdom and at the European Union.
