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Report of International Sikh Convention Organised by Sikh Federation UK on its 40th Anniversary

September 19, 2024 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

London: The Sikh Federation (UK) marked its 40th anniversary with an impactful International Sikh Convention at Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Wolverhampton, attended by over 10,000 Sikhs.The event highlighted significant leadership changes and strategic initiatives aimed at advocating for Sikh rights and the establishment of a sovereign Sikh State, Khalistan. The written report sent by Sikh Federation (UK) reads as follows:-

Sangarsh/Campaign to re-establish Sikh homeland, Khalistan receives major boost with announcements at International Sikh Convention organised by Sikh Federation (UK) on its 40th anniversary

15 September 2024

The International Sikh Convention took place at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Sedgley Street, Wolverhamptonearlier today and was organised by the Sikh Federation (UK) to mark the Federation’s 40th anniversary. The origins of the Federation can be traced directly back to the June 1984 Indian army attack on the Sri Harmandir Sahib or Golden Temple Complex in Amritsar. The Convention attracted over 10,000 Sikhs over the three days.

The Convention was broadcast live on several channels across the globe in over 100 countries and those attending and watching heard from the new leadership of the Sikh Federation (UK) and leading Sikh activists from across the globe, including the three keynote speakers: Bhai Mandhir Singh, Dr Amarjit Singh and Bhai Moninder Singh.

Although the leadership of the Federation has in the last two decades been refreshed with new talent allowing it to effectively tackle and address the many new challenges presented the 40th anniversary signalled a time to transform, reorganise and develop over the next decade to grasp new opportunities.

One of the major announcements on the 40th anniversary was the reorganisation of the Sikh Federation (UK) with radical and exciting changes in its structure, leadership and ways of working. Several speakers said this strategic move by the Sikh Federation (UK) to switch to a Panj Pardhani system in the hands of those born and brought up in the West was a momentous point in modern day Sikh history. It signalled to Sikhs across the globe the future direction of travel for the model of Sikh leadership that should be encouraged. The five will be referred to as Lead Executives in public communications with governments, NGOs and the mainstream media.

The reigns were handed over to a new 15-member executive, most being British born Sikh professionals to lead the Sikh community and work with UK Ministers over the next decade on a range of issues in the third edition of the Sikh Manifesto released in June 2024. They have been appointed for a two-year term. At the national level a Working Group of at least 15 Sikh women has been formed that will lead on several projects.

Over 30 others will advise or be project team members. 15 of these names were also made public with others remaining anonymous. A public recruitment drive was launched for hundreds of new volunteers over the next 12 months to assist with campaigns and help deliver projects. Finally, a 7-member Strategy Board of well-respected individuals with decades of experience was announced that will provide direction, ensure accountability and oversee the strategy of the organisation.

After 14 years of a Conservative government the political focus in the UK will be on specific promises made by the Labour leadership prior to the General Election. Progress is expected in the next 12 months on a public inquiry on UK involvement in the 1984 Sikh Genocide, release and return to the UK of Jagtar Singh Johal and recognition of Anti-Sikh hate. It is hoped the 12 Labour Sikh MPs can also get a Labour Government to deliver a statutory Code of Practice on Sikh articles of faith and formally recognise the 1984 Sikh Genocide.

The Convention more or less coincided with the 1st anniversary of Justin Trudeau’s explosive allegation in the Canadian Parliament on 18 September that the Indian government ordered the assassination of Canadian Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The Indian government was initially in denial about its involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, made and carried out threats against Canada, but a year later four people are in prison in Canada, awaiting trial and the Indian government has been forced to co-operate with the investigation. Arrests from another foiled plot in Canada from November 2023 have also emerged where it has been reported Canada has forced more staff at India’s external spy agency, RAW to depart.

It was therefore important Bhai Moninder Singh from Canada and Dr Amarjit Singh from the US who have both been warned their lives are under threat spoke at the Convention and in subsequent interviews. Their speeches and interviews demonstrate the Sangarsh is very much alive and the actions of the Indian government have strengthened the collective Sikh resolve for the re-establishment of a sovereign Sikh State, Khalistan.

At the Convention Dr Amarjit Singh, of the Khalistan Affairs Centre in Washington DC who was warned by the FBI on 22 June 2023 that his live is at risk touched about the foiled plot in the US from June 2023 and others that were targets. The information that has emerged to date from this foiled plot has proved to be the Indian government’s Achilles’ heel.

US intelligence has been at the heart of the public actions by the Canadian authorities and the US administration in applying public pressure on the Indian government for accountability for their actions on foreign soil. Australia has joined the US and Canada in publicly exposing the Indian government’s espionage on its soil.

The public response by the UK government, under Rishi Sunak to India’s blatant disregard for the rule of law through transnational repression was muted. It will be interesting to see how this changes in the next 12 months with a Labour government, legal proceedings in Canada and the US and the emergence of further revelations.

Another announcement made by Bhai Amrik Singh was the launch of a co-ordinated international campaign to have India officially declared a rogue state at a time when the right wing Indian government’s reputation is at an all-time low and it is clear it cannot be trusted.

After a decade of rule by Narendra Modi, India is widely recognised as an authoritarian state that severely restricts human rights and freedoms that we take for granted. The Indian government has supported Russia in the war in Ukraine, backed the leadership in Iran and Afghanistan and is making dangerous overtures towards China.

The logic to be pushed with Western and other governments is India must be officially treated as a rogue state as it has in the last 12 months also been exposed on the international stage for its transnational repression, state sponsored terrorism and political interference abroad.

In another significant announcement Bhai Moninder Singh told those gathered at the Convention that Sikh Federation (Canada) would be launched at the end of September or early October along similar lines to the Sikh Federation (UK). Bhai Moninder Singh and Bhai Gurmeet Singh from Germany said in the coming weeks details would be shared of the Federation’s international set up based on five regions that has been drawn up with clear objectives of engaging with governments across the globe and the United Nations.

Many observers see the Federation’s international structure as the first stage of an international set up to facilitate negotiations for the re-establishment of a Sikh homeland in response to a demand by governments and the United Nations for a global structure to negotiate on behalf of a sovereign Sikh State, Khalistan.

The Indian government should be taking extremely serious note of this development of capacity building at the national and international level made public at the Convention. They will now be fully aware that two super powers and their allies are showing a major interest in the re-establishment of a Sikh homeland.

Bhai Amrik Singh, said:

“On our 40th anniversary we are transforming and expanding the organisation, having a new and younger leadership and a structure to focus on the opportunities currently presented by the UK Government and on the international stage.”

“Governments across the globe are reassessing their relationship with the Indian government due to its highly protectionist policies that are making it difficult to do trade, transnational repression and increasing political interference abroad.”

“Governments appreciate they need to find a different solution to the geopolitical challenge presented in South Asia. This includes the global benefits of the re-establishment of a sovereign Sikh State, Khalistan.”

“Working with others we have commenced the process of creating an international structure to meet the demands of governments and the UN for a global set up to negotiate on behalf of a sovereign Sikh State.”

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Related Topics: International Sikh Convention, Sikh Federation UK

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