by: Gurjeet Singh
London: The Sikh Federation (UK) has been successful in getting the Labour Party leadership to include an independent public inquiry into UK Government involvement in the 1984 Sikh Genocide.
In due course we will release evidence currently being presented by the UK Government in on-going legal proceedings that will show the joint cover up by the current British and Indian governments.
The Sikh Federation (UK) members in Bristol also cornered the Foreign Secretary on this and other issues.
Today the Labour Leader spoke at a Gurdwara in Southall about the Labour Party pledge that was broadcast on the Sikh Channel a few hours ago. Jeremy Corbyn’s exact words were.
“I put specifically in the manifesto the question of an inquiry into 1984 at Amritsar. I was in Parliament at the time and many MPs raised many issues and concerns their and many have raised them on many occasions since then many others have continually raised those issues in Parliament and this is our opportunity in this manifesto to elect a government that is absolutely serious about uncovering the truth of what went on their on that terrible occasion and so I am proud that our manifesto will deliver that.”
Although many are not expecting to see a Labour Government in power on 9 June, Jeremy Corbyn’s words spoken today at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Southall will alarm India. For the official opposition to make a manifesto commitment and for the leader to make a promise ‘to uncover the truth on what went on in Amritsar in 1984’ puts considerable pressure on the current UK Government as experienced by Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary yesterday.
* Gurjeet Singh is National Press Secretary of the Sikh Federation UK.