Conservative MPs “not welcome” in Sikh spaces after Nationality and Borders Bill

The Sikh Council UK have backed calls for a ban on all MPs that voted for the Nationality and Borders Bill from official duty in Sikh spaces.

The statement comes after widespread outrage regarding the bill from the UK’s black, asian and other minority communities. Clause nine of the bill allows anyone applicable for duel citizenship to have their British citizenship removed, even if they were born here. This most impacts the Indian community, which includes Sikhs.

Read more on the bill and concerns about its racist premise here, via respected race equality journalism outfit Media Diversified. Groups opposing the bill are also pushing for signatures for a petition calling for parliament to remove clause nine from the bill. The bill is still yet to be passed through the House of Lords. British Sikhs are particularly concerned the bill will give the UK more power to bypass procedures which may help protect the community from the Indian government’s ongoing targeting of Sikh activists, which is usually done without any evidence of criminality against those targeted, as seen in the #WestMidlands3 and #FreeJaggiNow situations.

The call for a ban on all MPs supportive of the bill from Sikh spaces is not a new topic, as previously groups like the Sikh Federation UK, Sikh Youth UK and the National Sikh Youth Federation have issued and enforced bans on Indian government representatives, police and others from using Sikh spaces for official duty. Within panthic (Sikh path/community focused) Sikh circles, calls for MPs to be stopped from using Sikh spaces for public relations events without answering questions on Sikh issues have been widely supported for years. However, Sikh political gatekeepers and organisation/Gurdwara representatives have ignored such calls for years. Whether the Sikh Council finally showing official support for such calls will result in change is yet to be seen.

More Sikh community reaction to the fight against the bill will be shared as the battle continues.