Tens of Thousands of Sikhs to Gather in Central London to Mark 1984 Ghallughara

London: On Sunday 3 June tens of thousands of Sikhs will gather in central London and remember victims of the 1984 Sikh Genocide.

Sikhs from across the UK will commemorate the 34th anniversary of the June 1984 Indian army attack on the Sri Harmandir Sahib Complex, often referred to as the Darbar Sahib Complex.

Sikhs will gather in Hyde Park between 11am and 1pm. This will be followed by a protest march through central London before holding a massive freedom rally in Trafalgar Square between 2-5pm.

The theme of the annual event is Truth, Justice and Freedom.

The Sikh Federation UK said in a statement issued today that [i]n the past twelve months relations between the Indian regime and Sikhs in the Diaspora have increasingly become strained.

The main cause of this is the extreme right wing Hindu policies of the Indian government and the growing political activism of Sikhs in the Diaspora led by British and Canadian Sikhs, said Sikh Federation UK.

According to the Sikh Federation UK, [i]n the UK the Indian government see a number of campaigns, activities, incidents and events spearheaded Sikh groups as a major threat to its image abroad.

These include:

1. public opposition to Narendra Modi’s participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in debates in the UK Parliament as well as protests to coincide with his visit by highlighting issues relating to gross human rights violations and denial of religious freedoms.
2. the high profile #FreeJaggiNow campaign relating to the torture and continued detention without charge of Jagtar Singh Johal, a 31-year old Scot from Dumbarton who went to India to get married.
3. the widespread restrictions on Indian government officials/politicians from speaking or being given recognition in over 230 UK Gurdwaras.
4. the legal and political pursuit of the truth of UK involvement in the 1984 Sikh Genocide and anti-Sikh measures by the UK Government at the behest of the Indian authorities and continued calls for a UN-led investigation into the 1984 Sikh Genocide.
5. growing emphasis on the distinct Sikh identity, whether this be a separate Sikh ethnic tick box in the Census 2021, a monument in central London to recognise Sikh sacrifices and the Lions of the Great War or a Code of Practice regarding the 5 Kakaars and Sikh turban.

The situation between India and Britain has deteriorated by the over reaction of the Indian authorities. It has been reported in the Indian media that India Ministers have called for a ban of organisations such as the Sikh Federation (UK), ludicrous legal threats have been made against the UK Government for failing to take action against anti-Modi protesters who tore down the Indian flag in Parliament Square and ridicule of the Labour Party leadership for supporting Sikhs on many of these issues.

Speakers in Trafalgar Square are expected to include, the two Sikh MPs – Preet Kaur Gill and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi as well as Gurpreet Singh Johal the elder brother of Jagtar Singh Johal. Bobby Singh the co-founder of Love Your Postcode who has in the last 48-hours given unprecedented support for the event with hundreds of massive digital images that have highlighted the most prominent in June 1984 who were martyred is also expected to address those gathered in Trafalgar Square. See images attached.