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Lifting of the ban of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) is a Key Achievement: Sikh Federation UK

September 23, 2016 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

London: The Sikh Federation UK  recently held “National Sikh Convention” in Wolverhampton. The diaspora body of Sikhs in England, has issued a 50 page booklet to highlight its key achievements in last 12 months.

Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK), said that the activities of the Sikh Federation (UK) can be split into events and achievements through campaigns.

Some of the events he mentioned were the G20 World Sikh Summit at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick at the end of October before the Sarbat Khalsa in Punjab.  This allowed Sikhs in the Diaspora to gather and influence the outcome on matters such as the need in the longer term for what has popularly been referred to as a World Sikh Parliament.

Parts of Press Release issued by the Sikh Federation UK reads as follows:

Last November we also witnessed the Sikh Federation (UK) organising the first celebration of the Gurpurb of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Parliament and also saw the Sikh Lives Matter protest outside the Indian High Commission in response to disrespect of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in Punjab and the killing of innocent Sikhs that were protesting.  It was ironic that the Metropolitan Police used heavy handed tactics to clear the sit down protest by Sikh men, women and children.  The police for the first time in the UK deployed horse mounted and riot police against peaceful Sikh protesters and were forced to apologise.  This was almost certainly because there was the desire to appease the Indian authorities on the eve of Modi’s visit to the UK.

Another significant event mentioned at the Convention was the Campaign for Justice hearing in Parliament in February 2016 when a committee of senior politicians took evidence from the Sikh Federation (UK) about the Sikh experience of 1984.  Senior politicians that attended and the Chair, Rt. Hon. Andy Burnham MP, the Shadow Home Secretary, commented that the Sikh Federation (UK) representative ‘stole the show’.  TheVaisakhi event in Parliament was also cited at the Convention as this was the first time ever a speech was delivered by a Sikh Federation (UK) representative.  The speech emphasised the true significance of the Khalsa and made several significant political statements, including on Sikh political representation.

Those at the Convention were told the divisive Modi visit was designed to cause disharmony and had been used to exert significant pressure on the Sikh media to stop propaganda against the Indian authorities and to obstruct support for the annual June 1984 Remembrance and Freedom Rally.  However, despite the disruption there was a huge turnout in June proving Gurdwaras and the Sangat are now emotionally attached to the annual remembrance event and will never forget the events of 1984.

The campaigns that led to significant achievements were around the Modi visit that provided an excellent opportunity to raise awareness on the situation in India, including treatment of minorities, the current level of intolerance and the background and crimes of Modi.

After Modi’s visit came the attempted extradition from Portugal of Paramjeet Singh.  Those at the Convention were told the Sikh Federation (UK) supported by the Sikh Network showed its political strength in reaching over 250 MPs, all UK MEPs and MEPs in Portugal in a matter of days.  The latter took the case up with the Portuguese Minister for Justice. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader was approached and persuaded to intervene and willingly assisted by taking the case up directly with the Portuguese Prime Minister.

The Sikh Federation (UK) also took the case to the UN, working with Sikhs in Switzerland and got Free Trails International involved regarding the inappropriate Interpol Red Notice. A strong media campaign in the local and national media in the UK, Portugal and India assisted in encouraging the Portuguese politicians to reject India’s extradition request.

By far the greatest achievement of the year was the successful legal challenge to have the ban lifted on the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) after a 15-year campaign.  It started with a legal and political challenge that lasted for two and a half years until July 2003, followed by the setting up of the Sikh Federation (UK) in September 2003 to continue political work with the same aims and objectives.

Eventually a successful legal challenge launched in February 2015 by the leadership of the Sikh Federation (UK) forced the Home Secretary in December 2015 to back down as she realised she would lose the legal appeal. Debates followed in the House of Commons and Lords in March 2016 to confirm in law the lifting of the ban. This was a historic victory that has been recognised by Sikhs across the globe.   A month later all restrictions on the organisation across Europe were also lifted.

On the eve of the Sikh Federation (UK) Convention a small controversial pro-Badal group who claim to be Khalistanis, but do not have this as a stated aim and objective and done absolutely nothing for 15 years to have the ban removed unashamedly tried to hijack the ISYF name and logo.  Those at the Convention were left in no doubt the leadership of the Sikh Federation (UK) led all aspects of the campaign from start to finish for the last 15 years and appreciated why they had chosen to protect the ISYF brand from misuse.

Other achievements linked to the Sikh Manifesto touched upon by Sikh Federation (UK) speakers and politicians included:

• securing a separate Sikh ethnic tick box in the Census 2021, where excellent progress has been made in the last 12 months and the Office for National Statistics has agreed to test in 2017 in preparation for the Census 2021;

• progress on obtaining a site in central London for a permanent monument to recognise Sikh sacrifices in the First World War, where several options are being taken forward;
• an increasing number of Sikh schools suggesting the target of 25 Sikh schools by 2020 set out in the Sikh Manifesto should be achieved; and
• the need for an independent public inquiry into UK military assistance to India in the 1980s, where significant new information has come to light and a report has been drafted for consideration by lawyers.

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Related Topics: International Sikh Youth Federation, Sikh Diaspora, Sikh Federation UK, Sikh News UK, Sikhs in United Kingdom

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