Sikh Federation (UK)
The Sikh Federation (UK) is a non-governmental organisation[1] to work with all political parties.[2][3] It is the largest Sikh organisation in the United Kingdom.
Contents
About Us
Sikh Federation (UK) is a non-governmental organisation, that is a pressure group and often referred to as the first ever Sikh political party in the United Kingdom. SFUK is based on the ‘miri-piri’ principle the Sikh principle that temporal and spiritual goals are indivisible. The SF wants to Promoting turban wearing for Sikhs and non Sikhs to wear turbans, very important.
The organisation was established in September 2003 with the aim of giving Sikhs a stronger political voice by taking an increasing interest in mainstream politics in the UK.
Aims and Objectives
To work closely with each of the main political parties in the UK to promote relevant issues set out in the Sikh Agenda for the UK Government.
The main areas of work for the Sikh Federation (UK) are:
• Promote the Sikh religion, philosophy and way of life - working within the Sikh community and with local and national government;
• Promote sporting and educational activities as well as relevant cultural issues directly associated with the Sikh way of life;
• Campaign for human rights issues impacting on Sikhs in the UK and abroad - working with human rights groups, non-governmental organisations and politicians;
• Argue the case for the Sikhs right to self-determination and lobbying politicians, the UK Government, official representatives of foreign governments in the UK, the European Parliament and at the United Nations for the establishment of an independent sovereign Sikh homeland.
Goals and activities
Building a stronger political voice in the UK & abroad
- Strengthening the All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Sikhs
- Formation and working with the Sikh Council UK
- Establishing the International Coalition for a Sikh Homeland
- Mass Sikh lobby in the Houses of Parliament
- Meeting the Deputy Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats
- Restructuring and expanding across the globe
THE SIKH MANIFESTO 2015-2020
The Sikh Manifesto is about empowering the UK Sikh community to engage with the UK political system and create partnerships with democratic institutions. The Sikh Network will work with existing organisations that are identified and best placed to deliver these items and monitor progress against the Sikh Manifesto over the next five years and discuss and agree changes in strategy and approach to help deliver against the issues set out.
Discussions on a Manifesto started back in August 2014 with many members of the Sikh organisations and Sangat (please see timeline below). Following 6 nationwide consultations (all having many SCUK members in attendance) and many meetings the 10 points on the Manifesto were finalised.
Now as these points reflect the complete spectrum of Sikhs in Britain, not all will agree with every single word, however all Sikhs can relate to and adopt most or even all objectives set out in the Sikh Manifesto and will use it to challenge candidates and political parties to clarify their position.
SECTION 1 - BETTER REPRESENTATION IN PARLIAMENT Better representation in Parliament of issues of importance to the Sikh community, including an increase in visible Sikh representation in the House of Commons and Lords
SECTION 2 - SEPARATE ETHNIC MONITORING OF SIKHS Changing the Office for National Statistics (ONS) guidance to public bodies on collecting, monitoring and using ethnic group data by requiring Sikhs to be monitored as a distinct ethnic group and agreeing to a separate ethnic tick box for Sikhs in the 2021 Census
SECTION 3 - STATUTORY CODE OF PRACTICE ON THE 5ks AND SIKH TURBAN Introduction of a statutory Code of Practice on the 5ks and Sikh turban to prevent discrimination in the workplace and public spaces
SECTION 4 - ACTION AGAINST PERPETRATORS OF GROOMING AND FORCED CONVERSIONS Determined UK Government action against perpetrators of grooming and forced conversions and abandonment of the term ‘Asian’ by public bodies and the media
SECTION 5 - NETWORK OF STATE FUNDED SIKH ETHOS SCHOOLS Central and local government support for a network of state funded Sikh ethos schools
SECTION 6 - MONUMENT IN LONDON TO HIGHLIGHT SIKH SACRIFICES IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR Allocation of a suitable site in central London for a permanent monument to highlight Sikh sacrifices in the First World War to be funded through public subscriptions
SECTION 7 - PRESSURE ON FRANCE TO STOP DISCRIMINATION AGAINST TURBAN WEARING SIKHS UK Government working with other governments to exert pressure on France (and Belgium) to honour decisions by the UNHRC with respect to discrimination against turban wearing Sikhs
SECTION 8 - INDEPENDENT PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO UK GOVERNMENT ACTIONS IN THE LEAD UP TO AND AFTER THE 1984 SIKH GENOCIDE Independent public inquiry into the actions of the UK Government in the lead up to and after the June and November 1984 Sikh Genocide including restrictions imposed on British Sikhs following pressure by India
SECTION 9 - UN-LED INQUIRY INTO THE 1984 SIKH GENOCIDE UK Government recognition of the events of June and November 1984 as Sikh Genocide and backing for a UN-led inquiry into the atrocities committed by the Indian authorities
SECTION 10 - APPLICATION OF SELF DETERMINATION TO THE SIKHS UK Government recognition and support for the application of self-determination to the Sikhs
The Sikh Agenda 2001 An eight-point Sikh Agenda for the UK Government launched in September 2001 at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Wolverhampton, revealed a diverse range of aims and objectives for the Sikh community in the UK, which are as follows:
Agenda Item 1 - British Sikhs and the establishment • Increased participation in local and national decision making bodies - the number of public appointments for Sikhs to increase from around 50 to 300 in the next three to four years. • Greater political representation, particularly from practising Sikhs - four more Sikh MPs, five new Sikh Lords and an increase in the number of councillors from about 90 to 200 in the next three to four years. • Fairer representation in employment - in terms of numbers and seniority in local government, central government, the media, the police and the armed forces. • Greater participation and representation - in all areas from practicing Sikh women.
Agenda Item 2 - Government funding for Sikh organisations • A fair share for Sikh organisations and Sikh projects - For example, Sikh organisations need to aim to obtain £20 million of the annual funding available from the independent distributing bodies.
Agenda Item 3 - Promotion of the Sikh identity and the Panjabi language • Recognition and separate monitoring by public authorities - this assists in obtaining fair treatment as regards employment and the provision of public services to the Sikh community. • Increased understanding and awareness of the Sikh religion, the Sikh identity and the Sikh articles of faith - a government supported Sikh Awareness Week in April 2004. • Removal of all restrictions on Sikh articles of faith e.g. Kesh, Kirpan, Kara, Turban etc. at work, in business and in public places. • Panjabi as a modern language option for school children - this would implement the motion passed by the National Association of Head Teachers that the national curriculum be changed to bring this about.
Agenda Item 4 – Sikhs and Education • National Curriculum - secure changes to better reflect the Sikh religion, Sikh way of life and Sikh history. • Increased awareness of Sikhism in schools - through the provision of school assemblies about Sikhism, recognition of the right of Sikh children to take religious holidays without being penalised and the provision of suitable food reflecting the specific needs of Sikhs. • State funded Sikh schools - parity of treatment with other faith groups in terms of overall numbers and provision of relevant resources.
Agenda Item 5 - Preserving Sikh heritage • Working with the UK Government and its agencies to preserve Sikh heritage and promote a wider appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of the Sikh Nation.
Agenda Item 6 - Protecting the human rights of Sikhs and humanitarian aid • Travel - Ensure the UK Government removes unnecessary travel restrictions and stops harassment at airports and seaports of law-abiding Sikhs wishing to travel to and from the UK regardless of whether they are politically active or not. • Sikh human rights abuses in India - Seek action from the UK Government on the continuing abuse of Sikh and other minority groups human rights by the Indian authorities. Particular attention should be directed at individual cases, such as that of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar. • 1984 massacres - Highlight the lack of justice for Sikhs in India following the massacre in November 1984 of tens of thousands of innocent Sikhs in several cities across India, including Delhi, which involved government officials and politicians of the ruling political bloc encouraging and leading well-orchestrated gangs. • Human rights abusers travelling to the UK - Urge the UK Government to take appropriate action against individual Indian politicians, police officers and army personnel, if and when they visit the UK, who have been implicated or directly involved in the murder, torture, abuse and disappearances of Sikhs in India. • Humanitarian assistance for victims of human rights abuses - Encourage the UK Government to work with British Sikhs to provide financial support and humanitarian assistance to orphaned children and bereaved Sikh family members and those who have suffered from torture, false imprisonment, human rights abuses and state oppression in the Indian subcontinent. • Status and rights of women - Highlight the plight of women in the Indian subcontinent, including abortion of female foetuses after scanning, dowry deaths and honour killings. Encourage the UK government to link development programmes in the subcontinent with projects to empower women.
Agenda Item 7 - Self-determination for the Sikh Nation • Right to self-determination - Lobby the UK Government, official representatives of foreign governments in the UK, the European Parliament and at the UN to accept the Sikh Nation’s right to self-determination enshrined in International Covenants on Economic, Social, Cultural, Civil and Political Rights. • Lobby the UK Government, official representatives of foreign governments in the UK, the European Parliament and at the UN for a change in policy towards the Indian subcontinent so that it adequately reflects the Sikh Nation's desire for self-determination and complements the need to reduce the threat of nuclear war. • Khalistan - Make known and explain the reasons why Sikhs want to establish an independent sovereign state of Khalistan to the British public, political organisations and the UK Government.
Agenda Item 8 – Challenging the ban and restrictions on Sikh organisations • Removal of the ban on the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) - Increase political pressure on the UK Government to have the ban removed in the UK and to clear the name of the many thousands that previously belonged to and associated with the ISYF since 1984. • Release of frozen funds - Urge the UK Government to release funds held in UK bank accounts that were frozen after 9/11. These relate to assistance provided to orphaned children, bereaved Sikh family members and those that are suffering from false imprisonment and human rights abuses in the Indian sub-continent. • Work with Sikhs in European countries, Canada, USA and Australia to lobby individual governments, the European Parliament and the UN to have restrictions removed against Sikh organisations from holding funds that were imposed erroneously following 9/11 and the passing of a UN order. • Brief Parliamentarians, including those responsible for the review of anti-terrorism legislation, on the impact and inappropriate nature of restrictions on British Sikh organisations and individuals. To put in perspective the motivations of those seeking such restrictions, given the wider political context, propaganda and underlying reality of the status of Sikhs in India.
Leadership
Amrik Singh Gill is the current (as of September 2012) Chairman of the Sikh Federation (UK.[4]
The Sikh Federation UK has a 15-member executive panel that manages and drives the SFUK agenda and activities, they are supported by a national and regional structure with local membership.
The Federation's most prominent spokesman is Dabinderjit Singh [5] and a spokesman for Sikh rights and interests.[2][3][6] He was awarded an OBE in 2000.[5] Singh has also acted as a spokesman for Sikh Secretariat, formed in 2001.[6]
References
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External links
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