A meeting of the Panj Singh Sahib held at the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Amritsar on 27 January 2014 agreed for the Sikh Council UK to work to resolve matters concerning UK Sikhs.

The decision, issued in the form of an Adesh (order) requires Sikh Council UK, in carrying out this work, to consult with UK religious Jathebandian (organisations) and Gurdwara Committees and to inform and take permission of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib.

The Panj Singh Sahib (five respected Singh’s) led by the Jathedar (leader) of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib are the most senior temporal authority of the Sikhs. They meet regularly to discuss and issue declarations on issues relating to Sikhs. Sikhs across the world will abide by the decisions of the Panj Singh Sahib. The Panj Singh Sahib will typically include the Jathedars of the Five Takhats (seats or thrones of authority) of the Sikh faith or their representatives.

The Panj Singh Sahib met on 27 January 2014 at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Amritsar under the headship of Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. Also present were Jathedar Balwant Singh, Jathedar of Sri Damdama Sahib; Jathedar Mal Singh, Jathedar of Sri Keshgar Sahib; Giani Jagtar Singh, Head Granthi Sri Harmander Sahib and Giani Sukhjinder Singh, Granthi Sri Harmander Sahib.

Secretary General of the Sikh Council UK, Gurmel Singh said, “The decision of the Panj Singh Sahib for Sikh Council UK to lead on matters concerning UK Sikhs came as a surprise and is very humbling. Whilst the decision is welcome we will now need to consider how we implement the Adesh and how we improve communication between UK Sikhs and Sri Akal Takhat Sahib.”

Member of the Board of Jathedars of Sikh Council UK, Gurmukh Singh said, “I believe this Adesh is recognition of the affiliated member organisations of Sikh Council UK as well as being an expression of confidence in the Sikh community of UK. The Sikh Council UK must continue working to bring all our Gurdwaras and institutions together either as affiliated member organisations or through partnerships and dialogue with existing Sikh organisations and Institutions.”

Spokesperson of the Sikh Council UK, Kulwant Singh Dhesi said, “This historic announcement is the first time the Panj Singh Sahib have given such a decision in relation to any organisation in any country. Whilst this reflects the progress made by the Sikh Council UK in such a short time it is also a welcome recognition of the role and contribution of Sikhs in the diaspora.”

He added, “Sikhs in the UK and across the world have always respected and worked in accordance with our traditional Jathedar systems but in recent years have sought recognition of the large Sikh diaspora. This is a welcome first step in accommodating and integrating Sikhs outside of India into our central authorities. We will continue supporting our traditional structures, particularly the supremacy of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, whilst working within them in this new way for the benefit of the entire community.”

END

Notes for Editors
The written Adesh (order) of the Panj Singh Sahib is attached. As this is in Punjabi, an English translation is below:
“5 Singh Sahiban met at the Akal Takhat Secretariat on 27 Jan 2014. After deliberation it was resolved that the religious organisation set up by the congregation of the UK the “Sikh Council UK” should use appropriate efforts / endeavours to resolve all the UK’s religious and community issues having consulted all religious Jathebandian and Gurdwara committees and inform and take permission from the Akal Takhat before reaching the final form.”
Final form means final conclusions / resolutions etc.

Please see below a question put by Rt Hon John Spellar MP to Mike Penning MP, the Minister of State for Disabled People at the Department for Works & Pensions and the answer given on 3rd February.

Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend to industrial premises the exemption for Sikhs from requirements to wear safety helmets on construction sites.

Mike Penning: As the law currently stands, turban-wearing Sikhs are exempt from wearing head protection in a high hazard industry, construction, but may be required to wear it in lower hazard workplaces. I am seeking to table an amendment to the De-regulation Bill, which is currently before Parliament, to extend this exemption to all workplaces, including industrial premises. The amendment will also extend the limitation on liability for employers to any work situation where a turban-wearing Sikh chooses not to wear head protection. There may be very limited exceptions, such as for specific roles in the emergency services or armed forces. The Health and Safety Executive is currently consulting on the proposals.

The Foreign Secretary The Rt Hon William Hague MP

Statement to Parliament

‘Indian Operation at Sri Harmandir Sahib in 1984’

Tuesday 4^th February 2014

With permission, Mr Speaker, I wish to make a statement on the Cabinet Secretary’s report into the Indian Operation at Sri Harmandir Sahib, also calledthe Golden Temple, in Amritsar in June 1984.

The House will recall that on 13^th Januaryconcerns were raised regarding two documents released to the public in the National Archives.

The documents relate to the painful events that followed the occupation of the Temple site by Sikh dissidents in December 1983, which led to a six-month standoff with the Indian authorities.

In June 1984 a three-day military operation by Indian forces known as ‘Operation Blue Star’ took place. Official Indian government figures estimate that 575 people died.  Other reports suggest as many as 3,000 people were killed, including pilgrims caught in the cross-fire.

This loss of life was an utter tragedy.Understandably, members of the Sikh community around the world still feel the pain and suffering caused by these events.

Given this, we fully understand the concerns raised by the two documents. Theyindicated that in February 1984, in the early stages of the crisis, the-then British Government sent a military officer to give advice to the Indian Governmentabout their contingency planning.

Many in this House and the whole country rightly wished to know what connection, if any, there had been between this giving of advice and the tragic events at Amritsar over three months later.

Within hours of the documents coming to light, the Prime Minister instructed the Cabinet Secretary to carry out an urgent investigation in four critical areas: why advice was provided to the Indian authorities, what the nature of that advice was, what impact it had on Operation Blue Star, and whether Parliament was misled.

The Cabinet Secretary was not asked to investigate Operation Blue Star itself, or the actions of the Indian government, or other events relating to the Sikh community in India.

While the Cabinet Secretary has investigated these specific matters, I can make clear that during his investigation no circumstantial evidence has been offered, or has surfaced, of UK involvement in any subsequent military operations in the Punjab.

This investigation has been rigorous and thorough.

The Cabinet Secretary and officials have met Sikh organisations to ensure that their concerns informed the investigation.

They have spoken to individuals associated with the two documents, although some other officials are now deceased.

They have examined Hansard records from 1984 to the present day.

And they have carried out an extensive and thorough search of the files held by all relevant Departments and Agencies from December 1983 to June1984.

Their search throughsome 200 files and over 23,000 documents found a very limited number of documents relating to Operation Blue Star.

The Report notes that some military files covering various operations were destroyed in November 2009, as part of a routine process undertaken by the MOD at the 25 year review point.  This included one file on the provision of military advice to the Indian authorities on their contingency plans for Sri Harmandir Sahib.  However, copies of at least some of the documents in the destroyed files were also in other departmental files; and taken together these files provide a consistent picture of what happened.

The Cabinet Secretary’s investigation is now complete. Copies of the report have been laid in the Libraries of both Houses, and it is now beingp ublished on the Government website.

The report includes the publication of the relevant sections of five extra documents that shed light on this period, but which would not normally have been published.

We have taken this step because the whole investigation has been based on a commitment to the maximum possible transparency. We want to be as open as possible with the British public, in so far as that does not undermine the principle upheld by successive British governments of not revealing any information relating to Intelligence or Special Forces.

The main findings of the Cabinet Secretary’s report are as follows:

First,on why the UK provided advice to the Indian Government, the Cabinet Secretary has established that in early February 1984, the-then Government received an urgent request to provide operational advice on Indian contingency plans for action to regain control of the temple complex. The British High Commission in India recommended that the Government respond positively to the request for bilateral assistance, from a country with which we had an important relationship. This advice was accepted by the Government.

Second, the Cabinet Secretary then examined the nature of the advice that was provided to India following that decision.

He has established that a single British military adviser travelled to India between 8^th and 17^th February 1984 to advise the Indian Intelligence Services and Special Group on contingency plans they were drawing up for operations against armed dissidents in the temple complex, including ground reconnaissance of the site.

The adviser’s assessment made clear that amilitary operation should only be put into effect as a last resort, when all attempts at negotiation had failed.  It recommendedincluding in any operation an element of surprise and the use of helicopter-borne forces, in the interests of reducing casualties and bringing about a swift resolution.

This giving of military advice was not repeated.The documents show that the decision to provide advice was based on an explicit recommendation to Ministers that the Government should not contemplate assistance beyond the visit of the military adviser, and this was reflected in his instructions.  The Cabinet Secretary found no evidence in the files or from discussion with officials involved that any other form of UK military assistance – such as equipment or training – was given to the Indian authorities.

The Cabinet Secretary’s report therefore concludes that the nature of the UK’s assistance was purely advisory, limited and provided to the Indian government at an early stage in their planning.

Third, the report examines what actual impact UK advice had on the Indian Operation, which took place between 5^th and 7^th June 1984, over three months later.

The report establishes that during that time the planning by the Indian authorities had changed significantly.

The number of dissident forces was considerably larger by that time, and the fortifications inside the site were more extensive.

The documents also record information provided by the Indian Intelligence Co-ordinator that after the UK military adviser’s visit in February, the Indian Army took over lead responsibility for the operation and the main concept behind the operation changed.

The Cabinet Secretary’s report includes an analysis by current military staff of the extent to which the actual operation in June 1984 differed from the approach recommended in February by the UK military adviser. Operation Blue Star was a ground assault, without the element of surprise, and without a helicopter-borne element.

The Cabinet Secretary’s report therefore concludes that the UK military officer’s advice had limited impact on Operation Blue Star.

This is consistent with the public statement on 15^thJanuary 2014 by the Operation commander, Lieutenant-General Brar, who said that “no one helped us in our planning or in the execution of the planning”.

It is also consistent with an exchange of letters between Mrs Gandhi and Mrs Thatcher on 14^thand 29^thJune 1984 discussing the operation, which made no reference to any UK assistance. Those parts of the letter relevant to Operation Blue Starare published with the Cabinet Secretary’s report today.

The Cabinet Secretary has also examined two other concerns raised in this House and by the Sikh community, namely that Parliament may have been misled, or that the decision to provide advice may have been linked to UK commercial interests.

The report finds no evidence to substantiate either of these allegations. The investigation did not find any evidence in the files or from officials of the provision of UK military advice being linked to potential defence or helicopter sales, or to any other policy or commercial issue.  There is no evidence that the UK, at any level, attempted to use the fact that military advice had been given on request to advance any commercial objective. The only UK request of the Indian Government, made following the visit, was for prior warning of any actual operation, so that UK authorities could make appropriate security arrangements in London.  In the event, the UK received no warning from the Indian authorities before the operation was launched.

The Cabinet Secretary also concludes that there is no evidence of Parliament being misled. There is no record of a specific question to Ministers about practical UK support for Operation Blue Star, and he concludes that the one instance of a Written Question to Ministers related to discussions with the Indian government on behalf of the Sikh Community after the Operation.

In sum, the Cabinet Secretary’s report finds the nature of the UK’s assistance was purely advisory, limited and provided to the Indian government at an early stage; that it had limited impact on the tragic events that unfolded at the Temple months later; that there was no link between the provision of this advice and defence sales; and that there is no record of the Government receiving advance notice of the operation.

Nonetheless, we are keen to discuss concerns raised by the Sikh community. The Minister responsible for relations with India, My Rt Hon Friend the Member for East Devon, and my noble friend Baroness Warsi, the Minister for Faiths & Communities will discuss this with Sikh organisations when they meet them later today.  This reflects the strong, positive relationship the government has with the British Sikh community which plays such a positive role in so many areas of our national life.

We are also determined to look at the wider issues raised by these events about the management and release of information held by Government. Under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, the 30 year rule has been superseded by a 20 year rule, so that from 2022 all annual releases will be after 20 years. However, it is not clear that this change is being approached in a uniform fashion by all departments. The Prime Minister has therefore decided to commission a review to establish the position across Government on the annual release of papers and the ability and readiness of departments to meet the requirements of moving from a 30 to 20 year rule, including the processes for withholding information.  This review will be carried out by the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, Sir Alex Allan.

Nothing can undo the loss of life and suffering caused by the tragic events at Sri Harmandir Sahib. It is quite right that the concerns that were raised about UK involvement have been investigated. It is a strength of our democracy that we are always prepared to take an unflinching look at the past.

But I hope this investigation and the open manner in which it has been conducted will provide reassurance to the Sikh community, to this House, and to the public, and in that spirit I present it to the House

ਸੰਨ ਚੁਰਾਸੀ ਦੇ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ‘ਤੇ ਹਮਲੇ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਬਰਤਾਨਵੀ ਦਖਲ ਅੰਦਾਜ਼ੀ ਬਾਰੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਯੂ ਕੇ ਵਲੋਂ ਕੈਬਨਟ ਸੈਕਟਰੀ ਨਾਲ ਸਿੱਖ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਨਿਧਾਂ ਦੀ ਇੱਕ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ।

ਸਰ ਜਰਮੀ ਹੇਵੁਡ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਵਲੋਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਇਸ ਮਸਲੇ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਹੀ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਵਿਅਕਤੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਗਲਬਾਤ ਕਰਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਦਸਤਾਵੇਜ਼ਾਂ ਦੀ ਛਾਣ ਬੀਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਇਹ ਪਤਾ ਲਗਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕਰੇ ਕਿ ਚੁਰਾਸੀ ਦੇ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਹਮਲੇ ਵਿਚ ਬਰਤਾਨਵੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਕਿਹੜੇ ਮਨੋਰਥ ਨਾਲ ਜਾਂ ਕਿਹਨਾਂ ਕਾਰਨਾਂ ਕਰਕੇ ਦਾਖਲ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਸਪੱਸ਼ਟ ਕਰੇ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਦਰਮਿਆਨ ਕੀ ਕੁਝ ਹੋਇਆ ਅਤੇ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਤੌਰ ‘ਤੇ ਇਹ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਕਿਸ ਵਲੋਂ ਲਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।

ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਯੂ ਕੇ ਦੇ ਸੈਕਟਰੀ ਜਨਰਲ ਸ: ਗੁਰਮੇਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ, “ਅਸੀਂ ਸਰ ਜਰਮੀ ਹੇਵੁਡ ਦੇ ਇਸ ਗੱਲੋਂ ਉਚੇਚੇ ਤੌਰ ‘ਤੇ ਧੰਨਵਾਦੀ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਆਪਣੀ ਜਾਂਚ ਮੁਕੰਮਲ ਹੋਣ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਸਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਇਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਵੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰਥਕ ਹੈ ਕਿਓਂਕਿ ਜਾਂਚ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਦਿਸ਼ਾ ਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਤੱਖ ਵੇਰਵੇ ਦੇਖਣੇ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਵਿਚ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਇਸ ਇਨਕੁਆਰੀ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਲਗਾਓ ਸਪੱਸ਼ਟ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਨਾਲ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਰਦਰਸ਼ਤਾ ਦੇ ਅਹਿਮ ਪਹਿਲੂਆਂ ਦੀ ਅਹਿਮੀਅਤ ਬਾਰੇ ਦੱਸਣ ਦਾ ਵੀ ਮੌਕਾ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹੈ।”

ਉਹਨਾਂ ਹੋਰ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ, “ ਅਸੀਂ ਇਸ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਭਰੋਸੇ ਨਾਲ ਮੁਕੰਮਲ ਹੋਇਆ ਸਮਝਦੇ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਜਾਂਚ ਦੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਵੇਰਵੇ ਸੰਪੂਰਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਜਾਣ। ਅਸੀਂ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਯਕੀਨੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਜਾਂਚ ਨਾਲ ਬਾਕੀ ਦਸਤਾਵੇਜ਼ਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਜਨਤਕ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਸਿਫਾਰਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇ।”

ਇਸ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਵਿਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਯੂ ਕੇ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਨਾਲ ਐਸ ਓ ਪੀ ਡਬਲਿਊ (ਸਿੱਖ ਆਰਗੇਨਾਈਜੇਸ਼ਨ ਫਾਰ ਪਰਿਜ਼ਨਰਜ਼ ਵੈਲਫੇਅਰ), ਕੇਸਰੀ ਲਹਿਰ, ੧੯੮੪ ਜੈਨੋਸਾਈਡ ਕੁਲਿਸ਼ਨ, ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ, ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਯੂ ਕੇ, ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਯੂ ਕੇ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਨਿਧਾਂ ਨੇ ਭਾਗ ਲਿਆ।

ਭਾਰਤੀ ਉਪ ਮਹਾਂਦੀਪ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਸਬ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦੇ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਕੌਂਸਲਰ ਗੁਰਦਿਆਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਟਵਾਲ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ, “ਅਸੀਂ ਇਹ ਸਮਝਦੇ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਜਾਂਚ ਵਿਚ ਜੂਨ ਚੁਰਾਸੀ ਨੂੰ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਬ ‘ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਹੋਣ ਤਕ ਦੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਦਸਤਾਵੇਜ਼ਾਂ ਦੇ ਵੇਰਵੇ ਦੇਖੇ ਜਾਣਗੇ। ਜ਼ਾਹਰ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸਿੱਖ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਾ ਜੂਨ ਚੁਰਾਸੀ ਦੇ ਹਮਲੇ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਦੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਵੇਰਵਿਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਦਸਤਾਵੇਜ਼ਾਂ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਪਾਰਦਰਸ਼ਤਾ ਦਾ ਅਭਿਲਾਖੀ ਹੈ। ਐਸੀਆਂ ਵੀ ਘਟਨਾਵਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਵੇਰਵੇ ਹਨ ਜਿਹਨਾ ਨੇ ਕਿ ਮਗਰਲੇ ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਵਿਚ ਏਥੇ ਅਤੇ ਬਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਰਹਿ ਰਹੇ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ।”

ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਦੇ ਮਿਡਲੈਂਡ ਜੋਨ ਦੇ ਕੋਆਰਡੀਨੇਟਰ ਸ; ਜਗਤਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ, “ ਇਸ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਭਾਵਨਾਵਾਂ ਦਾ ਸੰਚਾਰ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਕੌਮੀ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਨਿਧ ਸ; ਕੈਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਐਸ ਓ ਪੀ ਡਬਲਿਊ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਨਿਧ ਬੀਬੀ ਹਰਮਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਵੇ ਮਗਰੋਂ ਚੁਰਾਸੀ ਤੋਂ ਹੁਣ ਤਕ ਜ਼ਖਮੀ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਭਾਵਨਾਵਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਪੀੜਤ ਸਿੱਖ ਮਾਨਸਿਕਤਾ ਬਾਰੇ ਗਲ ਕੀਤੀ। ਕੈਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਗੱਲ ਤੇ ਵੀ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਰੂਪ ਵਿਚ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਕਿ ਹਰਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਬਾਰੇ ਸਹੀ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਵਲੀ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਹੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ।”

ਉਸ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ, “ਸਾਨੂੰ ਹੁਣ ਇਸ ਜਾਂਚ ਦੇ ਬਾਹਰ ਆਉਣ ਦੀ ਉਡੀਕ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਉਮੀਦ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਦਸਤਾਵੇਜਾਂ ਦੇ ਜਨਤਕ ਹੋਣ ਨਾਲ ਹਰਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ‘ਤੇ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਫੌਜੀ ਹਮਲੇ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਬਰਤਾਨਵੀ ਦਖਲ ਅੰਦਾਜ਼ੀ ਦੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦੇ ਮਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਤਸਵੀਰ ਸਪੱਸ਼ਟ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ।”

ਇਸ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਵਿਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਯੂ ਕੇ ਵਲੋਂ ਚਾਰ ਅਹਿਮ ਪੱਖਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਜਿਹਨਾਂ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਕਿ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਤਵੱਜੋਂ ਦੀ ਸਰ ਜਰਮੀ ਹੇਵੁਡ ਵਲੋਂ ਸਹਿਮਤੀ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਕੀਤੀ:

• ਜਾਂਚ ਦੀ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਸਾਰੇ ਤੱਥ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਤ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾਣ।
• ਜਾਂਚ ਮੁਕੰਮਲ ਹੋਣ ਮਗਰੋਂ ਸਾਫਗੋਈ ਦੀ ਬਹਾਲੀ ਲਈ ਸਿੱਖ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਨਿਧਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇ।
• ਇਸ ਜਾਂਚ ਦੇ ਵੇਰਵੇ ਮਿਲਣ ਪਿਛੋਂ ਵੀ ਇਸ ਦੀ ਪਰਖ ਪੜਚੋਲ ਲਈ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੀ ਰੱਖੀ ਜਾਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਕਿ ਸੰਨ ਚੁਰਾਸੀ ਦੇ ਹਮਲੇ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਦੀਆਂ ਘਟਨਾਵਾਂ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਲੋੜੀਂਦੀ ਖੋਜ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਰਦਰਸ਼ਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਯਕੀਨੀ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕੇ।

The Sikh Council UK has organised and led a meeting of Sikh representatives with the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood to discuss UK Government involvement in the 1984 attack by the Indian army on Sri Harmander Sahib, Amritsar.

Sir Jeremy Heywood has been asked by the Prime Minister to review all Government documents and speak to surviving people named in the documents to understand why and for what purpose the UK was involved and to determine what actually happened and who authorised any decisions at the time.

Secretary General of the Sikh Council UK, Gurmel Singh said, “We are very grateful to Sir Jeremy Heywood for meeting with us prior to completing his inquiry. The meeting was extremely useful as it served to clarify the remit and limitations of his inquiry. The meeting also allowed us to put across the concerns of the Sikh community and emphasise the importance of disclosure and transparency.”

He added, “We left the meeting reassured that the inquiry will likely be completed imminently and reported to the Prime Minister. We were also reassured the inquiry will likely recommend publication of further documents by the Government.”

Present in the meeting were representatives of Sikh Council UK and other Sikh organisations including Sikh Organisation for Prisoner Welfare, Keshri Lehar, 1984 Genocide Coalition, youth organisations, Shiromani Akali Dal UK, Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar and Sikh Federation (UK).

Chair of Indian Sub-Continent Affars Sub-Committee of Sikh Council UK, Cllr Gurdial Singh Atwal said, “We understand the inquiry has considered and examined documents in the period up to the June 1984 attack on Sri Harmander Sahib. The Sikh community would naturally like to see further disclosure of documents and transparency to cover the period after the attack in June 1984. There are events and occurrences in the following months and years that continue to impact on Sikhs here and abroad.”

Midlands Regional Co-ordinator for Sikh Council UK, Jagtar Singh Gill said, “The meeting allowed the community to collectively articulate the strength of feeling within the community. National Youth Representative, Kam Singh and SOPW representative, Harminder Kaur gave particularly heartfelt accounts of the hurt and distress within the community over these revelations, the events of 1984 and the ongoing effects to this day. Kam Singh also took the opportunity to request that correct terminology is used for Sri Harmander Sahib.”

He added, “We will now await publication of the report and hopefully publication of further documentation which will allow the community to make an informed judgement regarding the involvement of the UK Government in the attack by the Indian army on Sri Harmander Sahib.”

Four points were requested by Sikh Council UK in the meeting which Sir Jeremy Heywood agreed he and the Government will consider:

1. To publish the Terms of Reference to his inquiry.
2. To meet with representatives of the Sikh community following publication of his report to allow clarifications.
3. To consider extending the remit of his inquiry to consider events after June 1984 or to put in place a mechanism to allow for ongoing disclosure and transparency.
4. To work with the Sikh community to redefine the relationship between UK Sikhs and UK Government.

End

The Sikh Council UK today gave a cautious welcome to the news the Government is intending to close a loophole to allow Sikhs to wear their turban in all workplaces.

The welcome news comes after a long campaign that began with senior representatives of Sikh Council UK first meeting and raising this as an important issue for UK Sikhs with Government officials over a year ago on 17 January 2013.

The proposed plan will extend the exemption that already exists in the Employment Act 1989 that allows Sikhs to wear their turbans in place of hard hats on building sites to now cover most other working environments.  There are still proposed to be restrictions in the military, fire service and police forces.

Construction sites are acknowledged to be one of the most dangerous workplaces but the fact the law does not cover other environments where hard hats are commonly worn as a safety measure, such as factories and warehouses has always been viewed as an anomaly.

Secretary General of Sikh Council UK, Gurmel Singh said, “I welcome this news.  It will make a real difference to Sikhs in the UK by increasing the number of workplaces that Sikhs can work in whilst maintaining their religiously mandated identity.”

He added, “Members of the Sikh Council UK have worked hard to achieve this milestone but we are still awaiting the actual wording and details of the legislation.  We actually received written confirmation in December last year from Mike Penning MP, Minister at the Department for Works and Pensions that the Government understood the issue and were looking at all legislative options including primary legislation.”

Executive Committee member of Sikh Council UK, Jagjit Singh said, “It appears the Government has decided to devote parliamentary time to resolving this issue for which we are grateful.  We have been liaising with Ministers and officials for a while now and we hope to receive the full details and wording within a few days and will be in a position to comment further then.”

The issue of wearing hard hats in place of Turbans has been an ongoing issue for Sikhs since the passing of the Employment Act 1989.  In recent times the importance given to Health & Safety legislation by employers has increased and just in the last year Sikh Council UK are aware of individual cases where Sikhs have been dismissed from longstanding employment due to their refusal to remove their turban and wear a hard hat.

Gurmel Singh added, “This issue is important for Sikhs and is one of the issues we have been raising with Government and opposition politicians for the last couple of years.  I am pleased with the response and support we are receiving to our work from all politicians.  Alongside these other issues the Sikh Council UK will continue working to seek full disclosure of all documents and facts in relation to UK Government involvement before, during and after the attack on the Golden Temple as well as during the ensuing State of Emergency and during and after the Sikh genocide following Indira Gandhi’s assassination in October 1984.”

END