LONDON, UK—The Network of Sikh Organizations (NSO) spear headed by Lord Singh, has called for all Sikhs to “Boycott Downing Street Vaisakhi Reception.”
From the first year of the coalition government, David Cameron hosted first ever annual Vaisakhi celebrations at Prime Minister’s (PM) residents at No. Downing Street. The year 2014 has got off to a rocky start with relationships between the UK government and the Sikh nation, since revelations were revealed that in 1984 the British Tory government provided military planning, and assistance, to the former Indira Gandhi congress government.
David Cameron’s government has been trying hard to put a cap on things, but painfully finding that the Sikh fury over this matter has not yet been resolved.
Today in an unprecedented statement, Lord Singh called for all Sikhs to boycott the 2014 Vaisakhi Downing Street reception. It now remains to be seen who will attend, and who will adhere to Lord Singh’s request.
In a written statement from the NSO announced, “Sikhs are deeply disappointed by the UK government’s attitude to Sikh human rights. While the present government cannot in any way be held responsible for support given by a predecessor government of 30 years ago, the present government’s statement that the assistance then given was ‘only minimal’, was deeply hurtful to Sikhs, and insensitive to others concerned with human rights.”
The same seeming indifference to Sikh human rights was also evident in the House of Lords during questions on the UK government’s advocacy of a UN led investigation into human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. Director NSO, Lord Singh asked Baroness Warsi, the Senior Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, if the UK government would consider supporting a similar investigation into the highly organized mass killing of thousands of Sikhs in 1984.
Lord Singh cited evidence from the American Embassy in New Delhi that the number of Sikhs killed in just three days in 1984 exceeded the total number of victims of General Pinochet’s cruel, and arbitrary, seventeen-year rule in Chile.
Baroness Warsi declined to answer the question, saying instead, that she had spent “an hour and a half” in a meeting with the Sikh community.
Following discussions in the NSO and with other Sikh organizations, Lord Singh was asked to pursue the point, and ask the UK government to show the same degree of commitment in addressing Sikh human rights, as they were showing in addressing human rights abuses against the Tamil population of Sri Lanka.
Lord Singh accordingly put a written question to Baroness Warsi, again raising the apparent lack of even-handedness. Baroness Warsi again gave a response which totally ignored the question. Lord Singh complained to House of Lords officials who agreed that his question had not been answered, and the Minister was formally requested to respond to Lord Singh’s original question.
During questioning on March 26, 2014, Member of Parliament (MP) Adam Holloway asked the Prime Minister what more could be done to bring justice for the appalling events at Amritsar thirty years ago.
In his reply, the Prime Minister acknowledged the continuing hurt to the Sikh community, and described the events of 1984 as “a stain on the post-independence history of India.” He continued, “We cannot interfere in the Indian justice system, nor should we. As British citizens, we are entitled to a clear answer to the question put by Lord Singh, “Why is it fine for our government to concern itself with human rights abuse in Sri Lanka but wrong for similar concern to be shown to Sikhs in India? Are Sikhs lesser human beings?”
The Prime Minister concluded his reply with, “The most important thing we can do in this country is celebrate the immense contribution that British Sikhs make to our country…”
The contribution detailed by the Prime Minister failed to mention that the most important contribution of Sikhs to society, whether here or in India, is the spirit of our Gurus’ teachings, and total commitment to human rights, not only those of Sikhs, but of all peoples everywhere. The true message of Vaisakhi is that we should always be ready to stand up, and be counted, in our concern for the human rights of all people, whatever the cost. It is a commitment that cost our 9th guru’s life when he took a stand against Mughal persecution. Guru Teg Bahadar gave his life defending the right of Hindus to worship in the manner of their choice.
It is the same commitment that led to the 1984 genocide against Sikhs for their earlier opposition to the three year dictatorship of Mrs. Gandhi.
Those concerned believe that it will be a betrayal of still grieving families in India, for UK Sikhs to participate in a UK government celebration that not only ignores their trauma, and suffering, but also ignores the underlying commitment to human rights central to the festival of Vaisakhi, and urge all Sikhs to boycott the Downing Street function as a charade that ignores the very meaning of Vaisakhi.
Whilst I agree that the UK needs to take a great interest in other religions than Islam, I would suggest that asking fellow Sikh’s to boycott a downing street event, is not a great thing to do. We are already fighting an uphill battle against David Cameron and his love of Islam, the current events he is running at No 10 are nothing more than a smoke screen for this true ideals. That being said, we need to make sure that as many people of as many faiths, other than Islam attend as many events as possible. Showing that this country is a Christian country that welcomes all faiths, and that we don’t want Islam :)
Me thinks you should attend in big numbers from all divisions and protest, perhaps in silence, I.e attend but forgo any greeting or social formality. Stand united in silence, can you imagine how awkward that would be for the host..it also reciprocates the silence of the British gvt. You would have a win win situation. Win the attendance of MPs and parliament to talk about the issue and why and how it happened. Win the show of solidarity unity and strength to become one united voice?
Justice from the British? They have used us since 1846. Its been a one way street.