Amritsar, Punjab (February 19, 2013): The Dal Khalsa has acknowledged that the visit of British PM to the Golden Temple, Amritsar will put Sikhs on the world map catching the attention of the world community and thereby creating more understanding of the Sikh community.
Extending a warm welcome to British PM Mr. David Cameroon and his delegation for visiting Darbar Sahib during his trip to India, a letter has been written by party’s spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh, which has been faxed to British High Commissioner, Sir James Bevan KCMG at New Delhi.
While some may like to see your visit to Golden Temple only as a compulsion of immigration politics, we consider it as a tactical recognition of Sikhs as a separate nation for which your team should be applauded, reads the letter.
Kanwarpal Singh further wrote that in view of the historical Anglo-Sikh connection, the British government owes it to the Sikhs to ensure that their fundamental rights are protected. He pinned hope that Britain would do well to uphold rights including self-determination of all ethnic nationalities, including the Sikhs without fear or favour.
Referring to the British Pod car that would make its presence in Amritsar transporting pilgrims from the city centre to Darbar Sahib, as a significant example of continuing British interest in Punjab, the Dal Khalsa has suggested that the British government should set up a British Council Library in Amritsar for the benefit of students of this region.
The letter appealed to him to be helpful in resolving the identity problems of European Sikhs including turban ban in France.