London: The newly formed Sikh Federation International (SFI) announced that UK parliamentarians will be briefed on Monday, 14 October, regarding transnational repression by India against Sikhs. The Sikh Federation International issued the following written statement in verbatim:
(Parliament of UK | Image used for representational purpose only)
UK PARLIAMENTARIANS TO BE BRIEFED ON TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION AND FOREIGN POLITICAL INTERFERENCE BY THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT
London – 13 October 2024
Yesterday a press conference was organised at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick to formally announce the formation of Sikh Federation International. Today speakers from across the globe addressed Sikhs at Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gurdwara, Derby that was broadcast live on television across the globe.
The Federation exists in an organisational capacity in around a dozen countries across the globe with supporters in dozens of other countries. The aim of Sikh Federation International is to co-ordinate efforts across the globe to restore Sikh sovereignty in the current world order. This will be achieved by engaging in diplomacy and advocacy around the world to support the establishment of an independent, sovereign Khalistan.
It will simultaneously develop internal capacity and establish effective mechanisms of global advocacy working with others with the same aim and develop solidarity and cooperation with other movements and oppressed peoples. A key focus of its activities will be to build consensus around the proposed governance and administrative structures envisioned in Khalistan to effectively articulate the unique vision of Sikh sovereignty.
With increasing political turmoil and instability in South Asia it is imperative that Sikhs are organised to be a global stakeholder to proactively participate in shaping the future of the region and broader world order. India’s volatile behaviour demonstrates that it is an unreliable global actor and a serious threat to stability in the region.
The Sikh Federation International will promote an international order based on Sikh ideals, which respects the inherent sovereignty of the Khalsa (patshahi) and remains committed to sarbat da bhala (welfare of all) and gareeb di rakhiya, jarvanay di bhakhiya (protection of the weak, destruction of the tyrants) for all.
The Sikh Federation International will highlight India’s ongoing human rights violations and acts of transnational repression and foreign political interference to advocate for justice and accountability on the global stage. On Monday 14 October dozens of UK Parliamentarians will be briefed from 4-5pm in Committee Room 19 by representatives of Sikh Federation International on the Indian government’s lack of respect for the rule of law in other countries. India is challenging the sovereignty in Western nations and increasingly interfering in democratic processes.
In the UK we had the mysterious death of Avtar Singh Khanda on 15 June 2023 three days before the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader. There are many unanswered questions surrounding Avtar’s death, including the role of the coroner in failing to carry out an autopsy and an inadequate investigation by the West Midlands Police.
The Metropolitan Police told Sikh representatives in a meeting in late June 2023 it was deeply concerned with the repressive activities of India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) targeting Sikh protesters in the UK. In July 2023 the NIA issued on Indian TV (broadcast in the UK) a “hit-list’ of 20 Sikhs (with six from the UK). In the same broadcast the NIA claimed responsibility for the killing of three Sikhs in May and June 2023, including Avtar Singh Khanda and Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
There appears to be no end to India’s transnational repression. Homes in Panjab of dozens of British Sikh activists have been raided and family members harassed. Some British nationals involved in protests in London are understood to have been detained when visiting India with at least one being recently charged for his participation in an anti-India protest in London.
Michael Polak, the barrister representing Avtar Singh Khanda’s family, along with the Sikh Federation (UK) team working with him will be attending to brief MPs on why he is calling for an inquest and a public inquiry into Avtar Singh Khanda’s death and the wider repressive activities where the UK government has been silent.
In the last 18 months transnational repression by the Indian government targeting Sikh activists in the Diaspora has made international news. The highest profile case has been the assassination of Canadian Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar on 18 June 2023. He was shot dead in the Gurdwara parking lot in British Columbia where he was the President.
On 18 September 2023, exactly three months after the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister stood up in the Canadian Parliament and made the explosive allegation of the involvement of agents of the Indian government in his killing. It has emerged this was based on information provided by the US authorities from a foiled plot in the US in June 2023 and corroborated with intelligence from India provided by one of the Five Eyes nations believed to be the UK.
So far at least four individuals have been arrested in Canada and one person has been extradited from the Czech Republic to the US. It has also emerged that while India was in denial about the assassination in Canada and the foiled plot in the US there was another assassination plot in Canada in November 2023 that was also foiled. Five are now awaiting trial in Canada and the US and other arrests may follow.
Following the arrests and charges the Indian government has been forced to co-operate with the two investigations and Indian intelligence staff have been expelled from major Western cities and depart from India’s spy agency. A detailed investigation by the Washington Post published in April 2024 named those in India involved, including the head of India’s spy agency who reports to the PMs National Security Adviser.
Bhai Moninder Singh and Bhai Prabjot Singh from Sikh Federation Canada have travelled to the UK to personally brief MPs. Bhai Moninder Singh has been receiving threat to life warnings for the last three years from the Canadian authorities and has been giving evidence to the ongoing public inquiry into Foreign Interference in the electoral process and democratic institutions in Canada that is covering India. Bhai Parbjot Singh is the lead advocate representing Sikhs at the public inquiry.
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