LONDON, UK—On Tuesday February, 25, 2014, a meeting was arranged by Sikh Council UK with representatives of the British Government, regarding the UK’s involvement in the June 1984 attack on Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) of Amritsar.
Baroness Warsi, a Conservative Senior Minister of State, met with the main Sikh representatives in attendance; Judge Mota Singh, Lord Inderjeet Singh, Bhai Mohinder Singh (Head of Niskaam Sewak Jatha Birmingham), Sikh Organization for Prisoners Welfare (SOPW), Sikh Federation, Federation of Sikh Organizations (FSO), Kesri Lehar, and Sikh ministers, from many political backgrounds. Many of these are well known figure heads who have had previous dealings with the British Government, particularly Judge Mota Singh, and Lord Inderjeet Singh.
The meeting was chaired by Gurmail Singh Kandola (head of Sikh Council UK). It began with Sikh delegates expressing grave disappointment about the outcome of the Heywood Report, and continued with a call for an independent inquiry. Baroness Warsi was accompanied by a group of fifteen prominent officials from various Government departments, including two members from the Home Office. It was a productive, and intellectually balanced, meeting with the Sikh community’s concerns over the issues conveyed loud, and clear. Baroness Warsi offered assurance that the matter would be looked into further.
Also on the meeting agenda, was the topic of continual harassment of SOPW by Indian Intelligence Agencies, and negative propaganda spread through the Indian media. Sikh representatives expressed their concerns for SOPW, a human rights charity fighting for justice within India. Baroness Warsi stated that she was aware of the charity work, and of the issues SOPW faced. She took notes on the difficult, and challenging, field in which SOPW operates, and the lengths to which the Indian Agencies will go to obstruct their work. SOPW has had meetings with several different Government officials at the highest levels, who have offered their support in protecting SOPW.
A full and official report is to be released by the Sikh Council UK.
