Sikhs demand UN-led probe into 1984 Golden Temple genocide

Say UK has historic responsibility to support Khalistan

LONDON: Thousands of British Sikhs from across the UK marched in central London to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the June 1984 attack on the Sri Harmandir Sahib Complex — often referred to as the Golden Temple Complex — and demanded justice for the victims.

The attack with tanks and artillery saw up to 150,000 Indian Army troops attacking the holy Sikh site, killing thousands and unleashing a wave of anti-Sikh prejudice at the official level. It’s believed that over 10,000 Sikhs were martyred by the Indian Army; tens of thousands of Sikhs, overwhelmingly young men, were detained in villages across Punjab for interrogation and were subsequently tortured and many killed.

Thousands of Sikhs gathered in Hyde Park and started “truth, justice and freedom rally” that reached the Tarafalgar Square where prayers were offered and speeches made. Thousands of men and women, youth and children were in attendance. Sikh leaders condemned the Indian regime and said that it had done everything to ensure that Sikhs didn’t get justice. They demanded the establishment of a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan and vowed that Sikhs would never compromise on their rights.

Speakers stressed the need for both a UN-led inquiry into the 1984 Sikh genocide and a judge-led independent public inquiry into UK’s involvement in the attack and anti-Sikh measures against the British Sikh community and activists following pressure from the Indian authorities in return for trade.Speakers said that before Modi came to power in May 2014, he made reference to the events of 1984 being a genocide but now he has encouraged vendetta against Sikhs at all levels.

They said that in November 2015 when Modi made his first infamous visit to the UK as the Indian prime minister, he completely side-stepped the issue of a public apology to the worldwide Sikh community for the role of the Indian authorities in the 1984 Sikh genocide. They said that Indian intelligence agencies handed over the blacklists to Indian embassies and high commissions across the world. The blacklists are maintained by the Foreigners Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and for obvious reasons are not in the public domain, they said.

Speakers resolved that they would continue to campaign for the right to self-determination and demand for an independent Sikh homeland, Khalistan. They said that the June 1984 attack on the Sri Harmandir Sahib Complex laid the foundation stone for Khalistan. They said that 30 years ago on 29 April 1986 the Sarbat Khalsa (very large gathering of Sikhs) took place at Sri Akal Takht Sahib (the throne of the timeless one and a symbol of Sikh political sovereignty) and passed the historic Khalistan Declaration for an independent Sikh state.

They said that the Sikh Network survey showed almost 99% of Sikhs in the UK believed the basic human right of self-determination applies to the Sikhs.