London, United Kingdom (July 08, 2014): Foreign Secretary William Hague and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne today started a high-level two-day visit to India, heading the biggest ever delegation to meet the new Indian Government.
Five months ago William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, stood up in the UK Parliament and described the events of June 1984 as at ‘utter tragedy’ and said ‘the Sikh community around the world still feel the pain and suffering’.
Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said today:
‘The British Sikh community are watching and we hope what was spoken in Parliament were not empty words. We want to see the Foreign Secretary raise Sikh concerns with Narendra Modi, the new Indian Prime Minister.’
‘Will he ask the new Indian Government to investigate Operation Blue Star and the actions of the Congress led Indian Government 30 years ago?’
‘Will he demand justice to be done by prosecuting all high profile politicians, police officers and officials responsible for the November 1984 Sikh Genocide?’
‘We are well aware the Indian authorities have in the past pressured the UK Government to curb campaigning by British Sikhs. It is about time our government stood up to Indian pressure and start to ask some serious questions instead of supporting India to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.’