AdminBritain’s Sikh community are tightening their grip over the outcome of the upcoming general election with the Sikh Federation writing to the main candidates in over 100 constituencies urging them to adhere to their recently released election manifesto demanding allocation of a site in central London for a permanent monument to Sikhs who lost their […]
Britain’s Sikh community are tightening their grip over the outcome of the upcoming general election with the Sikh Federation writing to the main candidates in over 100 constituencies urging them to adhere to their recently released election manifesto demanding allocation of a site in central London for a permanent monument to Sikhs who lost their lives in the World War 1.
The politically active Sikh community have also called for a statutory code of practice on items of the Sikh faith in order to prevent discrimination in the workplace and public spaces besides an independent inquiry into the actions of the British government in relation to the Amritsar and Delhi massacres of 1984. Bhai Amrik Singh, the chair of the Sikh Federation said each candidate in the 100 constituencies are being asked to provide a general endorsement of the Sikh manifesto and indicate those items they are prepared to specifically commit to and work on if elected.
Singh said “So far the Labour leadership continue to take the Sikh vote for granted. We will publish a summary of the responses from candidates in the 100 constituencies one month before the general election on May 7. We are also planning meetings with the leadership of the main parties to get their commitment to specific issues that will be shared widely with the 700,000 strong Sikh community. Sikh voters will then look at both the support of the party as well as the individual candidates before casting their vote”.
The candidates include the 50 target constituencies with a strong Sikh presence and 50 additional constituencies where Sikhs may hold the balance of power. The 50 additional constituencies are mainly due to the surge in support for UKIP and the collapse of the Liberal Democrat vote. In the manifesto, Sikhs have also demanded more effective Sikh representation in the Houses of Parliament.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said “I think the Sikh Manifesto 2015-2020 demonstrates the commitment of British Sikhs to be actively involved with the political process and is a great way of empowering the British Sikh community”. Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said “The British Sikh community’s energy and devotion in campaigning to drive forward our shared values of fairness, compassion and tolerance is a priceless contribution to the modern Britain we live in today”.
Britain is home to 600,000-800,000 strong Sikh community. The Federation is also sending letters to the leaders of each of the main political parties to clarify their positions by March 31, with regards to demands set out “in the Sikh Manifesto so the British Sikh community can be advised on the merits of each of the political parties”.
The community is also very politically active. Around 3 in 4 Sikhs have voted in different elections in the last 4 years. Around 2 in 3 voted in the 2010 general elections.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
~ Source: thelinkpaper.ca