Gurdwara rep calls for more #FarmersProtest dialogue after London arrest

A senior Singh Sabha London East Gurdwara sevadaar (selfless servant) called for UK authorities to avoid influence from their Indian counterparts and have more dialogue with the Sikh community after his arrest during a London  #FarmersProtest car rally (26 January).

Sukhbir Singh Bassi, Head Coach of Singh Sabha London East Youth Kabaddi, was detained in a cell at Brixton Police station for over five hours after he was arrested outside the India High Consulate building in Central London for breaching Covid protocol. The Singh Sabha London East group, who run Barking and Seven Kings Gurdwaras, had advocated a Covid safe London car rally in solidarity with the historic Republic Day Delhi protest taking place on the same day in India.

Millions of Sikhs in India have participated in the protest and hundreds of thousands are currently camped in and around India’s capital in a stand-off against the government over exploitative farming laws. Diaspora Sikhs have held rallies in their tens of thousands in the UK, USA and Canada, with similar events in Australia, Norway, Belgium, France, Austria, Malaysia, Italy and beyond.

With the Farmers Protest being an international issue of such concern to all Sikhs, Sukhbir Singh called for UK police to “not believe false accusations” about the movement and “hold dialogue with us”.

The respected community figure called the situation regarding Sikh response to the protest “delicate” and offered support to the government and the police in facilitating dialogue to avoid further unnecessary heavy-handedness from the police.

See his video speech (in Punjabi) here- https://www.facebook.com/singhsabhabarkingyouth.kabbadiclub/videos/2983726038525867.

Sukhbir Singh was one of over a dozen Sikhs that were apprehended by the Metropolitan Police outside the Indian High Consulate yesterday, with many issued £200 fines, including one family of five in one car. Vehicles were also confiscated and at least one more arrest was made. The fines for the protest rally were given out despite the fact attendees were strictly told to ensure they stayed in their cars and only travelled with those in their household.

One attendee speaking to Sikh PA said, “The police were prepared for the cars driving around the India High Commission and were immediately looking to issue fines.

“The annoying part is that if we were there to shop, we could still go into various stores around London. There were loads of people driving around. Organisers were clear no one was to get out and gather or even stop anywhere.

“It seems the right to protest, even from the safety of your own car, have been completely taken away in the UK. On the same day police officers have been found breaking Covid protocol for haircuts, and we are protesting from our cars and being treated the same way.”

Met Police were accused of heavy-handedness at the 6 December London Farmers Protest rally, which has led to an investigation against one officer for punching a protester in the face. Last week The Sikh Network released an article detailing “The deteriorating relationship between UK Sikhs and the police” based on a series of events in recent years.

In calling for further UK-Sikh dialogue on the Farmers Protest, Bassi becomes the second Gurdwara affiliate to make such a request in recent weeks, after Head of Southall Singh Sabha Gurmail Singh Malhi called for urgent talks with Priti Patel based on her agreement to extradite three British Sikhs to India where they will face the death penalty.

Similar issues with state authority and Sikh activists acting in support of the Farmers Protest have been reported across the world. The Our Avaaz group, a Sikh community led activist network in BC (Canada), recently spoke against local police shutting down a similar event in Vancouver.

With no sign of the Farmers Protest in India ending any time soon, the relationship between Sikhs acting in support of the protesters and diaspora police forces is certain to remain a key talking point.