Category: Diaspora

Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US have witnessed turbulent protests orchestrated by pro-Khalistani extremists. The tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission was grabbed at by protesters chanting pro-Khalistan slogans. India has consistently cautioned the UK about the detrimental impact of such elements on bilateral relations. Hence, the imperative lies with the UK’s police and judicial system to take decisive action against these extremists and safeguard the atmosphere of mutual ties

In March 2023, the tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission was grabbed at by protesters chanting pro-Khalistan slogans. Following the incident on 19 March, India registered its’ strong protest with the British government over the safety of its diplomatic mission and questioned the lack of sufficient security at the premises.

Subsequently, such activism by pro-Khalistani extremists was witnessed in Australia, Canada and the US. Notably, India has been consistently warning the UK that such elements vitiate the atmosphere of bilateral ties and thus there was a need for the UK’s police and judicial system to take action against such extremists. Now an independent report on the UK’s handling of religious extremists has suggested that the “Government should clearly define and investigate extremist activity and identify where this exists within the Sikh community, taking steps to develop a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of subversive and sectarian Sikh extremist activity”.

The report, authored by Colin Bloom, an independent faith engagement adviser and appointed by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2019, has recently been made public. Coming as it does in the wake of the series of attacks on the Indian High Commission, by pro-Khalistani extremists, the report’s conclusion that the “UK Government should ensure that unacceptable and extremist behaviours are not inadvertently legitimised by government or parliamentary engagement” is a suggestion that needs to be seriously taken by the PM Rishi Sunak government.

The Bloom Report says that a “small, extremely vocal and aggressive minority of British Sikhs who can be described as pro-Khalistan extremists” is promoting an “ethno-nationalist agenda”, and some extremists are “known to support and incite violence and intimidation in their ambition to establish an independent state called Khalistan.”

It adds that the “subversive, sectarian and discriminatory activities” of such elements don’t reflect the true nature of the majority of British Sikhs, and the “extremist fringe ideology within the pro-Khalistan movement” has led to a division within British Sikh communities. This is relevant as the UK government has seemingly turned a blind eye to the attacks on the Indian High Commission in London.

The findings of the report come at a time when the government of India flagged the activities of Britain-based pro-Khalistan elements to London, especially after violent protests outside the Indian High Commission following the launch of a crackdown in Punjab on radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his followers. The report also points out that certain groups and elements are inciting the separatist agenda in the UK and further stresses on the timeliness of addressing the issue. According to the report, the Sikh communities in the United Kingdom endure compulsion and intimidation from fringe Khalistani forces. These pro-Khalistan groups artificially exaggerate their importance and garner excessive attention by lobbying political entities under the cover of human rights activism.

By way of background it is pertinent to mention that there are approximately 250 gurdwaras in the UK, with the largest able to accommodate over 3,000 worshippers. The earliest gurdwara, Khalsa Jatha, was opened in 1908 in Holland Park, London. In the UK, there is no overarching Sikh hierarchy governing these structures, but there are bodies based in India which have significant influence, the Akaal Takhat and the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, based in Amritsar in the Golden Temple complex being the primary organisations. Along with the Jathedar of Akaal Takhat (the most senior Sikh spiritual leader), the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) acts as the main spiritual and doctrinal centre for the Sikh faith globally and is the custodian of the Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct). While the SGPC cannot compel any British Sikh charity or gurdwara to do anything, the Akaal Takhat can issue edicts (Hukamnama) and advice notes (Sandesh) which have incredible influence across the organised gurdwara community and can ex[1]communicate Sikhs from the religious community.

One of the respondents to the Bloom Review points to the nub of the matter when he states, “Propagating hate and divisions, trying to brainwash youth to cause divisions and hate in India, [is] really sad. [Some Sikh extremist groups] are using places of worship to fund or getting funds under the name of faith and spearheading hate, these types of organisations shouldn’t be allowed to operate in our great country.”

Another respondent notes that “Only minority Sikhs are causing divisions and hate, [the] majority are peace-loving but these minorities are controlling the leading Sikhs temples in England and using funds raised for worship for propagating Khalistan (breaking up of India) and openly do that on social media. All are allowed to express their views and raise concerns of any injustice in India but spreading hate and brainwashing Sikh youth is [a] matter of serious concerns and many Sikh Temples are allowing [organisations to] have youth camps where some are trying to recruit youth to follow their hate, terror and division agenda.”

One could agree with the assertion of funds being collected in the name of the Sikh religion and which finds its way into the channels used to spread hate and incite violence. This “small, extremely vocal and aggressive minority of British Sikhs who can be described as pro-Khalistan extremists”, have been known to support and incite violence and intimidation in their ambition to establish an independent state called Khalistan, states the Bloom Report, adding that the physical borders of which are largely shared with specific parts of the Punjab state in India. Interestingly, this territorial claim does not include the part of the Punjab located in Pakistan. This makes it clear that one of the main controllers of Sikh extremism sits in Pakistan. It is not entirely clear if the motivation for these extremists is faith-based or not.

A more recent phenomenon observed is the use of social media by Sikh extremists and their supporters, which contain alarmingly dangerous and offensive imagery, language and the glorification of extremist behaviour. There are videos that incite violence and hatred towards Muslims, Hindus and even other Sikhs who disagree with the minority extremist ideology. For example, in February 2021, Khalsa Television Ltd, which served Sikh communities in the UK, was fined £50,000 by Ofcom (the UK’s Communications Regulator) for failing to comply with broadcasting rules. The channel aired a music video that indirectly called for violence (including murder) and a discussion programme which provided a platform for views that amounted to indirect calls to action that were likely to encourage or incite crime or lead to disorder.

The discussion programme also included a reference to the proscribed terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa, which could be taken as legitimising and normalising its aims and actions in the eyes of viewers. In 2022, Ofcom suspended and eventually revoked Khalsa Television Ltd’s broadcasting license following multiple breaches of broadcasting rules: “This was the third time within four years that this licensee had been found in breach of our rules on incitement to crime due to programmes inciting violence.” This involved promoting violence, including murder, as an acceptable and necessary form of action to further the pro-Khalistan cause.

The issue of pro-Khalistani elements operating from the UK’s soil continues to be an irritant in bilateral relations. The earlier this is resolved the better it will be; this however is subject to the UK taking action against such elements including deportation and cancelling of visas. The old practice of turning a blind eye to the Sikh extremist fringe in the UK must be overturned. The significance of the Bloom Report is that it recognises the threat and provides guidance on how to move forward. However, a word of caution here. Past experience is that India has consistently provided legally sound inputs to UK authorities on the activities of pro-Khalistani elements. It is for the UK to not only to act on these inputs but also pro-actively attempt to prevent such elements from raising their head. Thus, unless preventive measures are taken, the problem of pro-Khalistani elements playing to the gallery will not go away. That is the primary lesson to be learnt from the Bloom Report.

The launch of New Zealand chapter is aimed to provide a common platform for Indian minority communities living in the country to address their issues and act as a bridge between them and the Indian government. This development comes days after the IMF launched its first international chapter in Australia

The leaders of Indian minority communities living in New Zealand, while participating in the launch ceremony of the New Zealand chapter of the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF), renounced the false propaganda of Western media about the persecution of minorities in India.

The IMF launched its second international chapter in New Zealand during an event organised at Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland, which witnessed a massive response from the minority communities living in the country as they showed up in huge numbers.

The launch of this chapter is aimed to provide a common platform for Indian minority communities living in the country to address their issues and act as a bridge between them and the Indian government. This development comes days after the IMF launched its first international chapter in Australia.

The event was graced by Neeta Bhushan, high commissioner of India to New Zealand as chief guest. IMF convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu, along with IMF co-founder Prof. Himani Sood were present on the occasion. Attendees also included Taznim, Secretary of Burhani Women’s Association in Auckland; Father Joseph from the Serbian Orthodox Church; Shabbir Rajkotwala, a representative of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community; Nivzer Dadabhoy and Bonifa Irani, representatives of the Parsi and Zoroastrian Communities respectively among others. Besides, members of the New Zealand parliament, members of different communities, religious leaders, scholars, academicians, and researchers also participated in the launch ceremony of the IMF New Zealand chapter.

While the event witnessed the participation of all minority communities, they also condemned the false narrative being propagated about the safety and security of minorities in India and validated the fact that they are safe and secure in India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

IMF convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “Minority communities have been made equal partners in the development of India under PM Modi’s leadership. The leaders of these communities renounce the anti-India propaganda of Western media about minorities being persecuted in India. Rather these communities have flourished under the leadership of PM Modi.”

Simon David O’Connor, Member of Parliament New Zealand said, “Ever since PM Modi has taken over India’s governance, he has proved himself as an incredibly popular politician through the work and the leadership he has been providing the nation with, as well as the inspiration to New Zealand and other countries across the world. While there are several challenges against him by the international media, he is a very secular leader who engages with the people of all the communities and believes in equality among all.”

He further added that New Zealand is incredibly keen on more and deeper relationships with the people of India and engaging with the Indian Community living in New Zealand and engaging better with India in friendship and in trade.

Triple Talaq Issue

Meanwhile, the Indian Muslim women living in New Zealand, who participated in the event thanked PM Modi for triple talaq abolition and asserted that Muslim women are feeling secure now in India. The triple talaq law was enacted by the Centre in 2019. Taznim, a representative of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community and Secretary of Burhani Women’s Association in Auckland said, “PM Modi has taken several landmark decisions for the empowerment of Muslim women in the country such as introducing ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ to encourage the pursuit of higher education and abolition of the ‘Triple Talaq’ to ensure for them the dignity they deserve.”

Endorsing the fact that after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, he changed the way India is looked at global level, Father Joseph from the Serbian Orthodox Church said that ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come into power, he has been working to take India on the path of development and lifting the global image of the country. “While several false narratives are being set up about Minorities being unsafe in India, but the truth is that every community in the country enjoys freedom, security, and equal opportunities under the leadership of PM Modi. He is a secular Prime Minister and has been focusing on the welfare and progress of each community and connecting them to achieve harmony in the country,” he said.

Shabbir Rajkotwala, a representative of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community in New Zealand, said, “During his tenure of nine years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has focused on connecting with the people belonging to different communities in India and ensured equality among all, owing to which Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community now feels safe and recognized in the country. The entire community condemns the false narrative developed by the Western media that claims Muslims are unsafe in India. PM Modi has taken several big initiatives for the betterment of the Community, mainly in terms of business by opening the e-commerce channels that have resulted in the economic upliftment of the community.”

A representative of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in New Zealand said: “It is an honour to be part of the launch of the Indian Minorities Foundation in Auckland and to learn about India’s growth as a nation under PM Modi’s leadership. Every section of society in India is progressing, and Muslim Community is equally participating in its development. In the political era of PM Modi, Minorities feel safe in the country and enjoy equal opportunities.”

Nivzer Dadabhoy and Bonifa Irani, representatives of the Parsi and Zoroastrian Communities in New Zealand said, “The false narrative about Minorities being unsafe in India has been built by Western powers and vested interests to malign the nation and create a communal divide. This propaganda can be dispelled by witnessing the results of India reaching the global landscape and creating an image that is looked at by the entire world.”

Hemant Vohra, a representative of the Jain Community in New Zealand, said, “PM Modi has been working for the upliftment of Minorities in India without any discrimination and focused on the social and economic welfare of all the communities. As a result, the socio-economic structure of all Minority communities is improving at a great pace and contributing to the nation’s growth at large.” Malvika Shah and Madraj Chandra of the Jain Community also appreciated the work done by PM Modi for the betterment of each community and nation-building.

Nilesh Doshi, a representative of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple Avondale, said, “I feel honoured to get the opportunity to attend the launch of IMF on behalf of the entire BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha along with the people of the Indian Community in Auckland. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has understood the aspirations of each community and worked on taking them all together on the path of India’s progress.”