CHANDIGARH:Sikhs living in the United Kingdom have strengthened their electoral presence in a historical move ahead of the May 2015 General Elections for the House of Commons. For the first time, they have come up with a manifesto. It will be realised on January 31. The British Sikhs have put a ten-point charter including the introduction of a statutory Code of Practice of the 5Ks and the Sikh turban to prevent discrimination at workplace and public spaces; Independent public inquiry into the actions of the UK Government in the Operation Bluestar; allocation of a suitable site in central London for a permanent monument to highlight Sikh sacrifices in the first World War besides other demands.
The Sikh Manifesto is to be officially released at Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Southall (London) on January 31. Britain’s 2011 census states that the United Kingdom is home to nearly 4.3 lakh Sikhs of which 4.2 lakh live in England alone. They have a considerable influence on 50 to 100 seats of parliament out of 650. The Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, UKIP and Scottish National Party cannot ignore them.
Talking with the Sunday Standard, Dabinderjit Singh, Principal Adviser to the Sikh Federation (UK) said, “Discussions are on with the main political parties. However, the representatives of each have already confirmed to the Federation that they may be in a position to give firm public commitments on five or six of the demands in the manifesto before the General Election. This demonstrates that the British Sikh community is making the maximum use of its voting clout through the Federation.’’
The representatives from all 250 UK Gurdwaras and all Sikh organisations besides ministers, MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates are expected to attend the function.
Priorities for representation
■ Regardless of their own ethnicity, MPs elected in May 2015 and those who represent a large number of Sikh constituents must ensure that cll issues of importance to the British Sikh community are appropriately and adequately raised and acted upon in Parliament and by the next government.
■ Over the next five years, the British Sikh community working with the political parties must encourage more Sikhs to enter politics and remove barriers that prevent them from entering the House of Commons.
■ The three main political parties and the Prime Minister after the General Election must ensure that a number of Sikhs are appointed to the House of Lords at the earliest opportunity.