10 things the Bloom Review DOESN’T tell you about UK Sikhs

Foreword, by Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh

The Bloom Review is a recently published UK government report on faith communities in Britain. It is viewed as one of “the most sweeping” insights into all religions in the UK ever written. This is especially the case for the Sikh community, which was covered with an 11-pages on so-called “Sikh extremism”.

The belief UK-India trade plays a role in such framing of Sikhs cannot be dismissed. An obvious lack of understanding of Sikh philosophy plays a role in Bloom’s report too – which is even noted on page 53. 

Why such disproportionate space was provided to “Sikh extremism”, with questionable examples provided that – even in their worst interpretation – do not compare with other communities, is another question worth asking. Only three pages were dedicated to white supremacist issues, which include murder and planned public bombings.

I have no doubt the team behind the Bloom Review spent time speaking to various Sikhs during a three-year consultation with UK faith groups. However, I also have no doubt those representatives largely come from the already long-established Sikh government-representational circles which have imposed their own biases onto the review. 

Whether deliberately or accidentally, the UK establishment seems to amplify certain voices within the community. Those voices come nearly entirely from those with political and/or academic ties, rather than those that connect with the community or Sangat (Sikh congregation) at a grassroots level. Whilst there is nothing wrong with engaging the political or academic actors, to claim that speaking only to those circles, and ignoring the community grassroots, can give a comprehensive insight into UK Sikh dynamics is misguided at best.

As a trained journalist that has spent eight years employed in a role which is anchored in Sikh community engagement, here I give a breakdown of what the Bloom Review does not tell you about the UK Sikh community.

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1)
What the Bloom Review tells us: The government needs to be “discerning” about working with groups displaying “extremist behaviours”

What it misses: The UK government already has 12 different Sikh groups it works with, and only two actively support global panthic issues

The first example of what Bloom is not telling us about Sikhs comes when he says (page 22) the government should avoid legitimising “extremist behaviours” by being more “discerning” about the Sikh orgs it engages with. What the report does not tell us is what Sikh orgs are engaged with government already and which are not.

The Sikh orgs most involved in general government engagement are City Sikhs, Sikh Tories, Sikhs 4 Labour, Network of Sikh Orgs, Sikh Assembly, British Sikh Consultative Forum, British Sikh Association, the Nishkam Jatha, Sikh Council UK, Supreme Sikh Council UK, The Sikh Network and The Sikh Federation UK. Of all these organisations, only The Sikh Network and The Sikh Federation UK (who work closely together) consistently raise the type of issues that see global Sikh mobilisation (#FarmersProtest, #FreeJaggiNow, #PunjabUnderSiege etc). This is self-evident. This is not an opinion. Check their social media pages yourselves. These two groups are the only ones to regularly hold open public engagement events in Sikh spaces that any sangat can attend. So when Bloom talks about government being more “discerning” about Sikh engagement, he is hiding the fact they already have 12 options to choose from, and only two of those consistently reflect the type of issues that bring the community together for protests.

Another thing to note about UK government engagement, is it actively avoids speaking with arguably any of the openly pro-Khalistan groups. These groups tangibly represent massive sections of the Sikh community, yet they are overlooked. Why do the government only talk about Khalistanis, but not talk to them?

2)

What the Bloom Review tells us: Sikh communities expressed the most negativity towards the police

What it DOESN’T tell us: This partly comes from police violence towards Sikhs

A noteworthy stat (page 59) says 40% of Sikh participants have “negativity towards the faith literacy of the police”, the most of any faith group. What is not mentioned is that Sikh negativity towards UK police partly stems from a concerning pattern of mistreatment towards Sikhs, such as sensationalist comments from West Midlands Police on Sikh extremism, concern about info on UK raids ending up in Indian media and inaction on issues of police-Sikh brutality. This negativity is not just about police not understanding Sikh beliefs and practices. It is about police violence and collusion with the Indian State.

3)

What the Bloom Review tells us: Islamic extremism is like Sikh extremism!

What it DOESN’T tell us: This sensationalist take is classic Indian nationalist propaganda

The first highlighted quotation in the section about Islamic extremism (page 114) states; “Take action against these Sikh and Islamic groups who spread hate and glorify innocent killing… [redacted] are misusing charity funds coming from Sikh Gurdwaras and many Islamic groups doing [the] same”.

Why does the Bloom Review make so much effort to conflate so-called “Sikh extremism” with the very real issue of Islamic extremism? Partly at least, because it is clearly consulting people that regurgitate this Indian State propagandist rhetoric. One such figure that may have been consulted is Rami Ranger, Conservative Party Lord and the founder of the British Sikh Association and the Hindu Forum of Britain. Rami is well known for his unhinged Indian nationalist rants, which include openly threatening a UK sevadaar (selfless servant) with violence on Twitter, being slated for comments about Pakistanis working for the BBC and blaming the Sikh genocide on Sikhs from Southall. Ranger is currently being sued by Sikhs For Justice for baseless claims they are funded by Pakistan.

4)

What the Bloom Review tells us: “the English Defence League and Sikh Youth UK” were aligned

What it DOESN’T tell us: Sikh Youth UK have publicly condemned the far-right movement

Once again entwining Sikh activism with real extremist movements that have resulted in murder and terror acts in recent years, award winning community group Sikh Youth UK are mentioned in the startlingly short section about “White supremacy” (page 116). Bloom says SYUK are “aligned” with the English Defence League (EDL). This is false. They were interviewed about their work on grooming gangs by EDL founder Tommy Robinson in 2017 when he worked for Rebel Media. After this, Tommy Robinson was platformed by the BBC at least twice, showing his normalised media presence at the time. The same section also claims that SYUK refused to comment on the link when asked by the Independent. But SYUK did respond after the actual article came out. The response is included in the very article referenced, saying things including, “We have never advocated any of Tommy Robinson’s views on Islam, nor will we”. This response was followed up with a more detailed SYUK statement on SikhPA.com condemning the far-right. Showing further incompetence, the Twitter of @ActivistsUK is referenced by Bloom in relation to the 2017 meet, but the page was started in 2020.

5)

What the Bloom Review tells us: “The pre-eminent (Sikh) organisations are Akaal Takhat and the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee”

What it DOESN’T tell us: These leading bodies glorify Shaheeds (Sikh martyrs) that fought against India

The Bloom Review correctly highlights the two leading Sikh bodies on earth. Although they are not omitted from community criticism, it is largely understood both the SGPC and Akal Takht help maintain Sikh practice and values at a time when they are under attack. This includes supporting Shaheeds (Sikh martyrs) that partook in anti-State violence in 1984, in support of the Khalistan movement and in defence of the Sikh community during a genocide. Bloom later states concern about “glorification of violence and terrorism” (page 131) based on praise of groups like Babbar Khalsa, revered for their stand against India’s Sikh genocide. Bloom should know the glorification of the Sikh freedom fighters he refers to as terrorists is innate within the Sikh faith, from the top down.

6)

What the Bloom Review tells us: There is a “division between some British Sikh communities which is caused by an extremist fringe ideology within the pro-Khalistan movement”

What it DOESN’T tell us: Support for the fascist Indian State is actually a bigger cause of division

Any glimpse at the biggest Sikh Gurdwaras and the biggest Sikh gatherings in the UK (Nagar Kirtans for example) will show widespread support for Khalistan. Pro-Khalistan flags and pictures of Khalistani figures cause no issue and are accepted as a normal practice in Sikh spaces. Of course, this does not mean all Sikhs support the Khalistan movement. However, it does not provoke clashes within the community at any level other than the government representational level.

What is actually a head-turning point of contention in Sikh spaces is support for India. If any Gurdwara were to fly the flag of India, there would be mass community criticism towards those behind the move. The 2020 #FarmersProtest in India was hugely supported by UK Sikhs and it came with a growing understanding of India’s fascism. As such, support for India’s current regime is now easily the biggest divisive factor in Sikh spaces, as it is viewed by many Sikhs as supporting an anti-Sikh fascist regime where rape is normal, minorities are abused and media censored.

7)

What the Bloom Review tells us: “These (Khalistani) minority are controlling Sikh temples”

What it DOESN’T tell us: All Gurdwara management committees are voted in by its sangat (Sikh congregation)

The Bloom Review quoting basic disinformation about UK Sikhs should concern all that wish to learn from its contents. One of the most shocking examples of this (page 123) comes via a respondent stating an extremist minority control “the leading” UK Gurdwaras. Bloom platforms such a view without relaying the fact Gurdwara management committees are elected through a democratic process that offers all local attendees the opportunity to vote.

The same quote goes on to baselessly claim that “youth camps…are trying to recruit youth to follow their hate, terror and division.” This allegation can only have come from someone intent on destroying the support for Sikh orgs creating an environment where anyone can experience an immersive collective experience of Sikh education and practice. Groups that run camps include Khalsa Foundation, Sikh 2 Inspire, British Organisation of Sikh Students, Basics of Sikhi, Sikh Youth UK and more. Thousands attend these camps yearly. This kind of uptake in Sikh education correlates with the incredible level of Sikh philanthropy that occurs across the UK, which is also noted in the Bloom Review.

8)

What the Bloom Review tells us: “Aggressive Sikh activists” bully Sikh “public figures, academics and officials”

What it DOESN’T tell us: Sikh activists face bullying too!

Accusations of bullying in Sikh circles is a sensitive topic. The fact is, bullying is subjective, and now more than ever, every individual has the right to say if they feel bullied by any type of behaviour. The allegation of bullying among Sikhs is raised within the context of a “power struggle” between Sikh orgs regarding government engagement (page 124). There is no doubt that public representational work in the Sikh community anywhere in the world can lead to harsh criticism. This comes from a sentiment that these representatives fail to reflect grassroots concerns, such as the dozens of global protests which occurred in the last month due to the #PunjabUnderSiege situation. Resentment builds as year-after-year the same faces represent the community publicly without making effort to engage with the community at a grassroots level.

This in itself is bullying in the form of ostracization. Grassroots Sikh sentiment and grassroots community sevadaars are pushed out of representation spaces. If such figures try to get involved, they are often met with condescension, with their ability to engage within the political sphere belittled.

If this wielding of power to ostracize and belittle others is not enough, there is also a well-known but less spoken about issue of legal threats being very regularly issued by Sikh political figures to those behind criticisms about unreflective representation. This includes creepily tracking down personal details of Twitter users to send legal threats, including pressuring employers to act against these individuals. For obvious reasons, the culprits of this kind of bullying cannot be named. The bullying even extends to efforts to convince the UK Charities Commission some Sikh orgs are “extremist” and must be investigated for even being associated with Khalistan support.

For many Sikhs, especially the circles more educated in the faith, the concept of miri-piri makes purely “faith representation” efforts redundant without equal effort for Sikh political influence, and vice-versa. This responsibility is expected of official Sikh representatives.

9)
What the Bloom Review tells us: The territorial claim for Khalistan “does not include the part of the Punjab located in Pakistan”

What it DOESN’T tell us: Yes it does!

In a sign of influence from Hindu nationalist propaganda, the Bloom Review inaccurately states the pro-Khalistan “territorial claim does not include the part of the Punjab located in Pakistan” (page 125). This is factually incorrect and based on the idea Khalistani Sikhs are aligned with the Pakistan government, aiming only to destabilise India. However, if asked, Khalistani groups will confirm ambition for the rule of a Sikh homeland to extend into what is currently Pakistan. This was openly declared by the current most prominent Khalistan figure, Bhai Amritpal Singh. The reason the Khalistan movement currently focuses on sovereignty in India is due to the fact India Punjab is a Sikh majority, unlike Pakistan Punjab, and because a Sikh genocide occurred in India.

Paradoxically, Bloom suggests Khalistanis are aligned with Pakistan somehow yet pushes a narrative that one of the most prominent pro-Khalistan groups Sikh Youth UK “allegedly propagated an anti-Muslim agenda” (page 116). Bloom goes as far as downplaying the issue of Sikh targeted grooming, amplifying a suggestion “grooming is being used as a guise to promote anti-Muslim hatred” (page 130). This completely overlooks the fact the 2018 RASE report put together by Sikh Youth UK was taken seriously enough to make Sikh-targeted grooming gang issues headline news across UK media. Aside from Sikh Youth UK, various other Sikh org reps have verified the issue of Sikh-targeted grooming in the UK, including Kaurs.

10)
What the Bloom Review tells us: “some groups have sought to aggressively pressure Sikh leaders and gurdwaras to ban the use of the Anand Karaj (the Sikh marriage ceremony) for interfaith marriages”

What it DOESN’T tell us: Interfaith Anand Karaj ceremonies are only conducted by a few rogue Gurdwara committees commoditising a sacred ceremony mandated only for two Sikhs!

The issue of the interfaith Anand Karaj protests was always going to be mentioned in the Bloom Review. After seven years since the last protest though, one would have hoped to have seen more understanding of the issue. Sadly, this was not seen from Bloom, which poses only sympathy towards the position of allowing interfaith Anand Karaj ceremonies in Gurdwaras (page 129-130). The Bloom Review makes no mention of the fact Gurdwaras conducting interfaith Anand Karaj ceremonies are breaking strict decrees of the same institution they recognise as the leading body for Sikhs (the Akal Takht). Nor does Bloom mention that the Sikh Council UK held a mass meeting participated in by hundreds of Gurdwara reps in 2015 within which it was ratified that the Anand Karaj is only for Sikhs. The Bloom Review even mentions (page 122) the Rehat Maryada (official Sikh code of conduct) but pays it no heed in regards to what it says about the Anand Karaj being only for two Sikhs. This issue is viewed only from the side of allegations against those protesting against the Gurdwaras breaking basic Sikh protocol. A fair look at the issue would highlight that Gurdwaras doing interfaith Anand Karaj ceremonies were going against mandates from the highest Sikh authorities.In summary, the Bloom Review is not an insight into the dynamics of the UK Sikh community. It is actually an insight into the mindset of Sikh representational figures that want to work with the government without engaging with the community at a grassroots level.