London: As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 24 to mark the signing of the UK-India trade deal, British Sikhs have intensified pressure on the Labour government, calling for a judge-led public inquiry into UK involvement in the 1984 Indian Army assault on the Darbar Sahib Amritsar and related anti-Sikh measures during Margaret Thatcher’s tenure.

Jaspal Singh of the Sikh Federation (UK) warned that relations between Labour and the Sikh community may become “much more complicated in the coming days.” He cited growing frustration over what he described as “a wall of silence” from Labour leadership despite long-standing promises of a formal inquiry.

In a letter sent to all Labour MPs on 24 July by Dabinderjit Singh, Lead Executive (Political Engagement) of Sikh Federation UK, over 450 UK Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations reiterated their demand for immediate action and threatened to implement a “no platform policy” against Labour MPs who fail to support the inquiry.

“As our 22 July letter to the Prime Minister states: ‘This silence stands in stark contrast to public commitments made by the Labour leadership over the past decade — commitments that helped earn the trust and support of the British Sikh community,’” the letter notes.

The groups have given the Labour leadership until 31 July 2025 to announce the inquiry or face consequences. “We have respectfully requested that the government formally confirm next week after Narendra Modi’s visit… when the judge-led public inquiry into Thatcher’s actions against the Sikh community will commence,” the letter adds.

In a separate letter to Prime Minister Starmer dated 22 July, the Sikh organisations expressed “increasing concern and disappointment” over the government’s failure to respond to repeated communications. “In the absence of tangible progress… we would regrettably move forward with a ‘no platform’ policy from 1 August,” the letter warns.

The 22 July letter also highlighted Labour MPs’ private and public support for the inquiry. “None have expressed any opposition,” it states, “but continued silence, especially from MPs with large Sikh constituencies… cannot be assumed to be support.”

Adding further weight to the matter, the Joint Human Rights Committee is expected to release a report next week naming India as “a major threat to Sikh activists in the UK,” according to Jaspal Singh. He noted Modi’s remarks earlier today regarding those who “misuse democratic freedoms… to undermine democracy” as a potential acknowledgment of UK concerns around transnational repression.

The letter to MPs concludes by calling for a “fundamental reset” in Labour’s engagement with the Sikh community: “We should not be ignored… The Labour leadership must honour its pledges to the Sikh community and work with us to bring about positive change.”

With the 31 July deadline looming, pressure is mounting on Labour to act swiftly — or risk a growing rift with a key community that has been a consistent supporter of the party.

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♦ Letter from Sikh Federation UK to All British MPs Urging Inquiry into UK Role in June 1984 Attack on Sikhs:

♦ Letter from 461 Sikh Gurdwaras and Organizations to UK Prime Minister Calling for Judge-Led Inquiry into British Role in June 1984 Attacks on Sikhs: