1984 Sikh Genocide: Text of Speech Made by Paramjit Singh Sohal To Open Meeting with UK Foreign Minister to India

akal-takht-in-1984BEDFORD, UK—Following is the text of the speech made by Paramjit Singh Sohal on behalf of the three Gurdwaras in Bedford to open the meeting with Hugo Swire, the UK Foreign Minister.  Hugo Swire yesterday made a long awaited visit to Bedford to meet Sikh representatives at Guru Nanak Gurdwara Bedford at the invitation of the local Conservative MP Richard Fuller.  Meeting was organized by Sikh Federation UK and other Bedford organizations and Gurdwaras.

Rt Hon Hugo Swire – welcome – welcome to this Gurdwara and welcome to Bedford. 

My name is Parmjit Singh Sohal, I am here representing the three main Gurdwaras in Bedford.

We have previously met with our MP Hon Richard Fuller and I would like to thank Richard for arranging your visit here today.

We have invited you hear to seek Conservative party support for an Independent Public Inquiry in to UK Government’s actions in the lead up to and after the 1984 Sikh Genocide.

We need this inquiry to understand how the Government of the time viewed their Sikh subjects, and what part they (Government) played in the Genocide so that we can learn from this event and ensure that future Governments do not commit similar acts against Sikhs or other minorities. 

We would also like to seek your support for a UN led inquiry into the same Genocide to expose the people, especially in India, who committed the Genocide and to seek some justice for the thousands who suffered and thousands who continue to suffer.

All of us here today are either British Sikhs or have been living in this country for a very long time, in fact some of us were born here.

We are often told by our MPs and Prime Ministers how much they value the contribution made by the Sikh Community. On 6th February this year, whilst visiting the Sikh Gurdwara in Leamington, David Cameron was asked about his general message to the Sikh Community, he said “My message is to thank the Sikh Community for their extraordinary contribution to our country, contribution we see in our business life, we also see through our military, winning more VCs then other ethnic groups in the British Army, a contribution we should commemorate and mark on this 100th anniversary year of the 1st World War”.

We concur with Prime Minister’s views and I feel this is because Sikh principles and values are British values – such as:-

Kirat karna – Earning an honest living through work.

Wand Shekhna – Sharing wealth with others that are in need.

Sikhs believe in tolerance and equality.

We believe in the Rule of law and that it applies to everyone, and that no one is above the rule of law.

We believe in personal freedom, including freedom to worship any religion and to worship none. 

We believe in strong family units and responsibilities of family members to others within and outside the family unit.

Sikhs are loyal subjects and have over the years worked hard for the British economy and when required sacrificed their lives for the British cause, such as in the two world wars.

We also have a deep affection for what I would call our mother land, where some of us and our parents were born and which is the home of our religion.

A religion which promotes equality and freedom for All mankind.

The army attack on Harmandir Sahib Complex in 1984 (called Operation Blue Star) was a mournful, despairing, grief-stricken and traumatic time for Sikhs around the world. As British Government papers have shown this attack was pre-planned, and it took place simultaneously on the Harmandir Sahib and at least 38 other Gurdwaras in Punjab. In this attack it is reported that around 5000 people were killed, most of whom were innocent worshipers. Sadly for my family, one of my wife’s 14 year old cousin, was amongst those who never returned home. He had gone to Amritsar on the occasion of the martyr day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the 5th Guru of the Sikhs who himself was tortured and executed by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1606.

As if these atrocities were not enough another Government action called “Operation Woodrose” took place immediately after operation Blue Star, the objective of this operation seems to have been the elimination of all Baptised Sikhs and in particular Sikh youth. During this operation once again tens of thousands of Sikh youth were hunted down, shot in false encounters, imprisoned, tortured, and many never seen again.

Following Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her own body guards, thousands of innocent Sikhs were murdered by hooligans who had been assembled together by leading congress politicians, during these murders local police stood by and watched.

Some of the victims were dragged from their homes, others pulled out of taxis and cars, petrol was poured over their bodies and they were set alight. 30 years on – no significant justice has occurred. In fact some who were implicated in these crimes were promoted and enjoy government jobs.

As a Sikh to have witnessed and lived during these atrocities, I personally feel ashamed. Most Sikhs are ashamed that our government, the British Government, thought it fit to give advice and implicit support to the Indian administration who committed this genocide.

What did the British Government know of what was happening in India at the time? In offering advice, were they naïve, or did they actively participate in the whole event? Documents have proved British involvement in Operation Blue Star, this can’t be denied, what role did they play in Operation Woodrose? What advice did they give after Indira Gandhi’s assassination? Who were the people involved in advising the Indian Government, it certainly wasn’t only the single SAS officer who visited Harmandir Sahib, who else was consulted? What qualifications did the people advising have? Was all this done for trade? Perhaps to protect British jobs, we don’t know? Perhaps in Government analysis everything was accounted for, we want to know how many Sikh lives were calculated as being equivalent to each British job saved. When ministers talk about equality do they really mean equality for all citizens or are some better than others?

At the Hillsborough Inquest into the death of 96 Liverpool supporters in 1989 – which is still in progress – Chief Supt David Duckenfield – who was in charge of policing – has admitted that he was probably NOT the best man for the job on the day? Is anyone going to hold up their hand and admit their involvement in the Sikh Genocide?

We need answers? And the only way we are likely to get the answers is through an Independent Public Inquiry which should examine all government documents; we see no reason for any document to be hidden from the inquiry due to reasons of National Security, because 30 years on there should be NO issue of National Security.

If we examine all the facts with a cool head, it is not difficult to deduce that the Sikh Genocide was planned by Indira Gandhi and her administration. Why – we do not know – only a UN led international inquiry may be able to get to the real facts. If such an investigation does not take place I fear that Sikhs or perhaps Christians or another minority in India may have to suffer another genocide.

As British Sikhs we are fortunate that we live in a safe and democratic country. But democracies are not judged by how they treat the majorities – rather how they treat their minorities.

As Sikhs we will always stand for Justice and fight for Freedom – just like our fore fathers did in the 1st and 2nd world wars.

We want to know the full extent of the truth behind the events in 1984, both here in the UK and elsewhere. And we demand that our parliamentary representatives work tirelessly to find the truth. So that perhaps some justice can be given to the families of thousands that suffered, and continue to suffer in the genocide that took place.

2 COMMENTS

  1. I think in India their is no jungle raj. ….. but here it seems to be bks Sikh people’s who were targeted haven’t got justice after 30 year’s. .. so how can India grow in the world

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