Gurdwaras urged not to platform politicians who won’t condemn “UK-India targeting of Sikh activists”

A national panthic (Sikh community/path focused) conference took place this past weekend where representatives of over 250 UK Gurdwaras were told not to give stage-time to politicians unless they condemn ongoing anti-Sikh “transnational repression”.

The directive came amid community discussion around the UK government’s lack of vocalness on Canada and the USA exposing India’s anti-Sikh transnational repression program, which was a major geopolitical story of 2023. Sikh groups have long said the same issue exists in the UK, a take which the Conservative Government seem reluctant to explore.

The discussion came at a conference held on 14th January at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick (Birmingham, UK), led by the Federation of Sikh Orgs (FSO), and attended by various Sikh org reps and led by The Sikh Federation UK (SFUK), a leading member of FSO. The SFUK previously held an open conference for public engagement and insight into their work in September 2023, where it was agreed “Our vote will not be allowed to be taken for granted“.

The discussion led to “a number of resolutions” passed regarding “transnational repression”, whilst “Rishi Sunak came in for considerable criticism” for “not backing the Canadian Government and US Admin” by condemning India.

See an SFUK statement about the conference below.

Global Sikh efforts to pushback against the now documented Indian State transnational repression program continue.

Media inquiries- Har-Rai@SikhPA.com.