UK Government has silenced British intelligence concerned about the safety and security of British Sikh activists
London – 24 November 2023
It is now clear from the intelligence, law enforcement agencies and governments in the US and Canada (and Pakistan) that the current Indian government led by right wing extremists does not respect the rule of law and the sovereignty of other nations.
The Indian authorities are taking the law into their own hands by carrying out extrajudicial killings and attempting to assassinate Sikhs in the Diaspora that are peacefully campaigning for the re-establishment of a Sikh homeland.
UK politicians should be repeatedly reminded Britain annexed the last Sikh Kingdom that existed for 50 years in 1849, entered Anglo-Sikh Treaties and a Labour Prime Minister, Clement Attlee offered Sikhs a separate homeland in 1947 before splitting the Sikh homeland in half and creating India and Pakistan.
UK Government papers show British Sikhs raising human rights concerns and peacefully campaigning for a Sikh homeland have been an issue for the Indian authorities for nearly 40 years since the 1984 Sikh Genocide.
The British intelligence is fully aware of the evidence and intelligence from the US, Canada and Pakistan as well as the “foul play” that led to the mysterious death of Avtar Singh Khanda three days before the assassination of Canadian Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
However, the UK Government, led by Rishi Sunak who is deeply conflicted has controversially silenced British intelligence officers who were talking to media contacts (and anti-terror police who were talking to Sikh community representatives) about the threat from the Indian authorities and their agents to British Sikh activists. It does not suit the UK government to acknowledge the illegal and criminal activities of the Indian authorities in the UK.
The Labour opposition that believes it is the government in waiting is far too cautious and influenced by those who are pro-Indian. Keir Starmer, David Lammy and Yvette Cooper may not want to listen to British Sikh activists and the threats they face. But they should be talking to their counterparts in the US, Canada and Pakistan and not relying on the Tories and pro-India elements in Labour who are compromised and are increasingly alienating the British Sikh community by not showing leadership based on principles and courage.
ENDS Jaspal Singh National Press Secretary Sikh Federation (UK)