From left to right: Harvinder Singh Phoolka (Delhi based lawyer), Rob Marris MP, Kevin Lowry (Redress)
Sikh Lobby on Delhi Pogroms in 1984 II
From left to right: Amrik Singh Gill & Dabinderjit Singh (both Sikh Federation), Harvinder Singh Phoolka (Delhi based lawyer) and Rob Marris MP Wolverhampton South
Sikh Lobby on Delhi Pogroms in 1984 I
Jubilee Room of the Houses of Parliament, the speaker is
Delhi Lawyer Harvinder Singh Phoolka
24TH ANNIVERSARY OF ANTI—SIKH POGROMS
SIKH LOBBY
Houses of Parliament, London – Thursday 30 October 2008
Jubilee Room: 3.00-5.00pm
Host: Rob Marris MP, Chair All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs
A year long campaign of events and activities linked to June & November 1984 is being launched on the 24th anniversary of November 1984.
The Campaign 84 Team is delighted to announce that Harvinder Singh Phoolka will be the special guest in the UK from Sunday 26 October – Sunday 2 November 2008. He is a senior advocate in the Supreme Court, and former additional advocate general, Punjab. He stands apart from his colleagues in the legal fraternity. At the risk of incurring the Congress government’s wrath, he took up the cases of the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms. He can be credited with keeping alive the fight for justice for the 1984 victims, has been the force behind setting up of the Citizen’s Justice Committee and has spearheaded one of the longest and most torturous legal battles in modern history.
Sikhs meeting with Equality and Human Rights Commission
The following persons attended the meeting with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) from the British Sikh Community on Tuesday, 28 October 2008:
Kashmir Singh LL.B, LL.M, C.Eng, MIET, BSF General Secretary
Dabinderjit Singh B.Sc (Econ), CPFA, OBE, Sikh Federation (UK)
Dal Singh Dhesi, Sikh Community & Youth Service UK
Harjinder Singh, Heathrow Sikh Care Society
Mejindarpal Kaur LL.B, United Sikhs
The Commission was represented by the Deputy Chair and other leading Officials. The issues listed below were discussed.
1. Census 2011 and public bodies – Sikh Ethnic Group Monitoring
The BSF stated that Sikhs were both an ethnic group as well as being a religious group; as such, wherever ethnic groups are monitored for jobs recruitment, retention, promotions, delivery of services by the public and private sector, then Sikhs should be monitored as an ethnic group. The RRA(2000) places a positive duty on public bodies to do so. Many other ethnic groups were monitored, and British Sikhs suffered racial discrimination with regard to jobs, redundancies, promotions, and delivery of services.
The EHRC stated that one of the main problem is that the categories that are going to be used in the census 2011 need to related to the ones used in the census 2001. The BSF stated that the ethnic group question has only been asked in the 1991, 2001 Censuses, and there had been changes all the time, with new questions being asked, for which there was no previous comparable data. The BSF believed that ethnic group monitoring could be done for Sikhs, and also that there was no such requirement for many new questions being asked, or for other new ethnic groups that had been added. The Home Office Minister, Lord Filkin, had previously stated that the Government expected public bodies to monitor Sikhs as an ethnic group.
Public bodies: because the Sikh community is legally recognised in the Race Relations Act as an ethnic community it should be taken into account under the public duties, for example they should be impact assessed for racial discrimination and equality. Hence the Office for National Statistics has the obligation to impact assess the categories that are going to be used or not used in the census 2011.
Various organisations have been in contact with the Office for National Statistics (ONS). A consultation about whether to include the Sikhs as a category in the census was opened; more than 500 responses were submitted and they all supported the creation of this category. The ONS delayed the publication of the report until after the Sikh Lobby Day of Parliament, and lumped some Sikh responses together as only one response.
It was agreed that the BSF will put together strong evidence to the EHRC showing how Sikhs can be monitored as an ethnic group, addressing the main areas of concern; also provide evidence from authorities that have been collecting this data about Sikhs. Show what has been achieved with this data to create, a strong business case. The EHRC will support and lobby the initiative once the BSF submission had been completed and evidence had been collected and analysed. It should be noted that within India Sikhs are monitored for public jobs, promotions, delivery of services, etc. The Indian Minorities Commission Chairman had given his support as well to doing it in the UK.
The EHRC will talk with their Legal Department to analyse the necessity to start a legal case for it.
Equality Bill: The BSF asked the EHRC to support the need for Jews and Sikhs to be monitored as ethnic groups by public bodies, require public bodies to publish Equality data clearly showing the employment levels for Asians and blacks for each job grade, and to make sure that the definition of a public body includes all those financially supported by the Government, e.g. British Energy has £billions underwritten for decommissioning, and the recent funding of banks. The public duty should be extended to cover religion and belief as well. The EHRC will support these points when reviewing the proposed legislation.
2. EHRC Guidance Note for Employers and Public bodies on Sikh Articles of Faith
There had been many individual cases of racial discrimination against British Sikhs, e.g. wearing the Kara in schools, Kirpan, Turban, etc, although such matters had been settled in previous instances. New people and new organisations kept making the same mistakes as before. An Official document was required addressing Sikh Articles of Faith.
The BSF handed out the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) “Head Protection for Sikhs wearing turbans” Guidance for employers, as an example, which had been previously produced by the BSF and the HSE.
The BSF also handed out the Commission For Racial Equality (CRE) Guidance Note on Sikh Men & Women & Employment, published in Sep 1980, which needed to be revised and updated with an up-to-date EHRC document covering the Sikh Articles of Faith.
The idea was to produce a document to give guidance to employers, public bodies, and information to the general public about the Sikh community.
There had been discussions on-going with the Government about producing such a document for use across Government Depts, since prior to the last General Election, but had dragged on for years.
It was agreed that the BSF will revise the document published by the CRE and send the draft to the Commission. The EHRC will then produce an official document, and send it out for wider consultation. The EHRC will also progress the matter with Government.
3. Attacks on Sikhs in cases of mistaken identity
The position of the Sikhs after 9/11 was discussed, with Sikhs being negatively affected by those events because people tend to identify them with potential terrorist threats.
This had happened because:
a. There is no education in schools about Sikhs and their connection with British history. This is part of the reason why this group is invisible to society.
b. “They look different”, and are a group easy to identify.
It was agreed that this could be an issue treated as phase two after the publication of the Guidance Note on Sikh Articles of Faith.
4. Racism against Sikh community
a. It was agreed that details should be provided of problems within West Midlands Police on riot training with Sikhs being asked to wear hard hats, with other Police Services not requiring it.
b. Strategic cases should be taken up by the EHRC.
c. Prim Singh, Nobel Prize Symposium level scientist, had suffered racial discrimination problems at a leading Research Laboratory in Scotland, with the scientific establishment ganging up against him, so that he was now exiled from the UK, and could only get a similar level job in Germany. A number of other scientists had been paid settlements out of court to keep them quiet, and stop the issues becoming public. He had sent his details to John Wadham, EHRC, but had received no reply. The EHRC stated that John Wadham had been off ill, and asked for the details to be re-sent.
d. Grooming of girls from Sikh and Indian backgrounds into prostitution and conversion to Islam had been taking place in schools, colleges, universities by extremists for a long time, but the police had done nothing. It was only when white girls became targets as well, and white families were involved, that it eventually became an issue and the Government started to take notice. What was the best way to take it forward to protect Sikh and Indian girls? This was indigenous to the UK, and was different to sex trafficking of young women into the UK from east European countries. The EHRC would advise on the best way to take it forward.
Dal Singh Dhesi
WaheGuru Ji Ka Khalsa, WaheGuru Ji Ke Fateh
Sardar Harjinder Singh Khalsa’s blogs are quite interesting and useful.
However, the article below is somewhat inaccurate; Sardar Dal Singh Dhesi has made a very useful contribution to the British Sikh Community over many years. Some people say that he made a very valuable contribution in the struggles against the fascist National Front, extremist Muslims targeting Sikhs, some criminal blacks targeting Sikhs for muggings/robberies, some Christian conversion activities which included inducements, etc. He has been opposed to extremists, irrespective of which group they come from, including Sikhs.
He has a good track record of working with all ethnic groups, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, African-Caribbeans, Dalits, etc. The evidence can be clearly seen through previous press articles, photographs, Councillors, politicians, Solicitors, Barristers, Directors, Panthic actvities, etc available at the SCYS UK Office in Birmingham. We owe him much, and many other Sikhs who have stood up on Panthic matters over the years.
Kashmir Singh LL.B, LL.M, C.Eng, Project Management NVQ; former member of statutory OFWAT water industry customer services committee for England and Wales, IEE Council, General Secretary, British Sikh Federation, PO Box 242, Wolverhampton, WV4 5DH, England, UK, British Sikh Federation <british_sikh_fed@btopenworld.com>
Mr Dhesi cannot represent the Sikhs
This posting is a reaction to Kashmir Singh’s posting under the title ‘Dal Singh Dhesi’. His posting reacted to the fact that I did not mention the name of mr Dhesi in my report on the meeting with the CEHR, in spite of the fact that this person was part of the Sikh delegation.
I have met mr Dhesi 6 times and he misbehaved four times out of six. The first time ‘blacks’ were his target, the second time it was the Muslims (a Granthi present on that occasion in East London told him off in no uncertain terms), the third time it was women and his latest effort was targetting a Christian delegate at a multi-faith meeting on the environment.
Mr Dhesi and his likes should be openly denounced by Sadh Sangat and should under no circumstances be allowed to be part of delegations representing the Sikhs.
During the meeting with the CEHR he highlighted the grooming of Sikh girls by ‘extremists’ (this means Muslims in Dhesi speak) to be expoited in brothels etc. I am not saying that there are no Muslims who are involved in this practice, and who knows they might even be ‘extremists’, but this is hardly a case for the CEHR.
If there are concrete cases where this has happened or has been attempted, he should report this to the police, if the police do not take up the case(s) our contacts with ACPO are good enough to make sure that a real case will be investigated.
So far both on the subject of forced conversions and the grooming as described above, loads of hot air has been produced by mr Dhesi and the Sikh Awareness Society, but not a shred of evidence.
Mr Dhesi and his friends are not at all interested in solving the real issues that there are between Sikhs & Muslims in this country, they are just making relations between the two communities worse.
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue
Bhandi Chhor Divas according to Gurmit Singh Australia
Waheguru jee ka Khalsa Waheguru jee kee Fateh
Sikhs all over the world are required to do their NitNem and attend congregation by visiting the nearest Gurdwara Sahib daily on all seven days and 12 months.
There are no auspicious or special days except when we celebrate/commemorate certain Gurpurbs/Historical events for sharing Gurus’ Teachings.
Diwali is not a Sikh festival though we should extend our wishes to the Hindus as Id Mubarak to Muslims and X’Mas to the Christians. Hence, there is no need to celebrate Diwali under the guise of Bandhi Chhor. Guru Hargobind Sahib when arrived from Gwalior Fort, it was not a Diwali Day. Morevoer, under Mughal Raaj, Muslim Rulers were not allowing Hindus or Sikhs to celebrate any such festivals.
Gurbaani does not support any such celebrations. Please read Shabd (62) at pages 624-625 in the Guru Granth Sahib – God is the Restorer of what is gone, the Liberator from captivity and the Destroyer of woe…..
The Sikh Diaspora should not blindly imitate SGPC and their doings in India.
Will you find out why are they not commemorating the day when Guru Nanak Sahib and other prisoners were released by Babur at Emnabaad?
Today, while taking Sikh Scripture class for Primary School students, children at their own told me -
(1) “My mother has lost her gold chain yesterday in Gurdwara and not found..”
(2) “There was fire due to candles and oil lamps and flag burnt”..
(3) “I took sweet but did not like” and so on…..
Majority of Sikhs have become so Hinduised that no one wishes to listen and learn “Gurbaani and Gurmatt”. May Akaal Purkh bless us discerning intellect so we start understanding the difference between chaff and grain.
Malice towards none.
Gurmit Singh (Sydney – Australia)
“Gurmit Singh” <gurmitsingh01@bigpond.com>
Bhandi Chhor Divas (there is more than one Harjinder Singh)
Divali – Keeping the flame of freedom alight
Sikhs throughout the globe will celebrate Divali on 28th October. Divas/lamps will be alight, a jovial festival atmosphere will prevail. Sweets and samosas will be enjoyed, fireworks will set alight the moonlit sky. But why do we really celebrate? Apart from the annual calendar significance? What does Divali mean for us as Sikhs?
The sixth Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee was falsely imprisoned for spurious reasons by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. After some months it was declared that Guru Jee could walk free. Like Guru Jee there were other prisoners of conscience in Gwalior Fort (the prison), specifically 52 Hindu Kings who made a heartfelt plea to Guru Jee begging him to negotiate their release also. The ocean of mercy Guru Jee listened attentively to their plea and showered his grace upon them and told them not to worry and that he would negotiate their release.
Guru Jee told the Emperor he would only leave the prison on the condition that the 52 Hindu Kings are freed also. The Emperor being a man entangled in his own ego and pride of intelligence, replied that Guru Jee could walk free with as many Kings who could hold onto his clothing on the day of his release. Guru the fountain of knowledge easily got around the condition by getting a robe tailored with 52 tassels on it. On the day of His release Guru Jee walked out of Gwalior Fort with all 52 Hindu Kings holding onto one tassel each, this auspicious occasion is referred to as “Bandi Shorr Divas – the day of emancipation.” Guru Jee did not only free the 52 Hindu Kings from prison, He also showered His grace upon them and freed them from the transmigration of the soul, freeing them from the cycle of births and deaths. Each and everyone of us also begs for this freedom:
Forsaking all other doors I have come to your door. Preserve my honour by offering the support of your arm, liberate me, I am your humble servant. (Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee)
I have come to the sanctuary of the formless and emancipating Lord, who destroys all sufferings. (Sri Guru Arjan Dev Jee, Limb 624 – Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee)
May Guru Jee bless us with spiritual and physical liberation also.
Bandhi Shorr Divas was months prior to Divali. Upon release from Gwalior Fort Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee made a tour of Delhi and other regions, then arrangements to go to Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar were made. When he reached Amritsar Sahib it was Divali and the Sikhs celebrated the release of Guru Jee with fireworks and festivities.
Relevance today
The world over there are countless prisoners of consciousness, held under false fabricated charges and/or those held for standing up for justice, freedom and righteousness. Please light a candle for these prisoners, non-Sikhs and Sikhs, don’t forget Guru Jee’s example of freeing Hindu Kings. He was benevolent, humane and had a profound love for one and all, may we develop such divine virtues. May we all endeavour to assist and support such prisoners and at the very least we can all make a heartfelt prayer that Guru Jee blesses all prisoners with Chardi Kala/High Spirits.
One cannot begin to imagine losing freedom of movement and action, we can only try to empathise with such prisoners. Regardless of the regime and it’s tyranny, no man-made authority can imprison the Sikh Spirit and Sikhs still happily go to the gallows for standing up for justice, freedom and righteousness. The Sikh Spirit cannot be imprisoned. Prominent Sikhs currently imprisoned include Dr. Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, Bhai Deya Singh Lahoria, Bhai Balwant Singh, Bhai Paramjeet Singh Bheora, Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, Bhai Paramjeet Singh Dhadhi and the list goes on and on. Just imagine being the parent of a child who entered militancy or quite simply ‘disappeared’ in the 80’s and 90’s in Punjab. Many of these parents light a candle at Divali, praying and wishing that the light of hope may still bless them with a vision of a fit and well son or daughter. Or they pray in despair that may God nurture their offspring wherever they may be.
So when you light a candle and eat a sweet at Divali, please spare a thought, that you are free and are not bound by the restraints of prison life. Lest we forget, lets light a lamp to ensure the rays of freedom shine through all of humanity.
Harjinder Singh
www.akaalpublishers.com
To receive in word please email me on harjinder_singh_khalsa@yahoo.co.uk
More from Kulbir Singh Jeon wala Gurdwara 3
All on the picture, please note the wee ones siting on the left.
Kulbir Singh is the young man in blue standing on the left.
These are some of photos of Gurmat Imtihaan, tree plantation, honouring students & the senior girls’ santhya-cum-gurbani vichar class.
Kulbir Singh
More from Kulbir Singh Jeon wala Gurdwara 2
Some serious work going on !
These are some of photos of Gurmat Imtihaan, tree plantation, honouring students & the senior girls’ santhya-cum-gurbani vichar class.
Kulbir Singh
