Farmers Movement Archive

I-Day: Separatist Sikh outfits protest outside Indian high commission in London

LONDON: Around 800 British Sikhs, chanting pro-Khalistan slogans, gathered outside India house and held ‘Black Day’ protest outside the High Commission of India in London on August 15 when the country celebrated its 75th Independence Day. The rally was organised by various groups, including banned separatist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) who are behind the Referendum 2020, which is illegal in India. There were many placards in the rally promoting this unofficial referendum, which will allegedly start in London on October 31. Mounted police were visible, along with a large police presence. The high commission building, which was damaged in violent protests on the I-Day in 2019, was barricaded and the protesters were penned in on the opposite side of the road outside Waldorf Hotel. The traffic was allowed to move through Aldwych. Meanwhile, a small group of Indian-origin cyclists—celebrating the Independence Day with a 15-km bike ride from Bombay Gymkhana to India House to raise funds for the Covid orphans in India—reached the protest site. They waved the Tricolour and chanted patriotic slogans such as “Vande Matram” (I praise to thee mother) and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” (Long Live Mother India) outside the India House, while the police officers had to stop the Khalistani protesters on the other side of the road from moving towards them. "The police initially advised us not to proceed. But at 3.15 pm (local time) we cycled past. The protesters on the other side started abusing us. Before the situation could spin out of control, we left through India Place," said IT consultant Nimit Shishodia. Prominent Khalistan supporter and alleged terrorist Paramjit Singh Pamma was among those who spoke at the rally. Pamma, who is a member of SFJ and has been linked with Khalistan militant organisations Babbar Khalsa International and Khalistan Tiger Force, lives in Birmingham and is on the most wanted list of NIA. One of the main speakers was Piers Corbyn, former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn's brother, who leads the anti-lockdown and anti-Covid-19 vaccine movement in Britain and the UK. “I am here supporting the Indian farmers’ protest and the movement for independent Punjab because the (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi regime has failed. I am supporting Punjab as it is part of the fight against the new world order,” he said. He added the Indian farmers are resisting the destruction of food supply, which is happening in many countries, including in the UK where food workers, involved in transportation, are getting pinged because of the NHS app. He alleged that the World Economic Forum wanted to impose a global government run by mega corporations and super rich and in order to do this they need to close down small businesses. “PM Modi is signing up completely to the new world order and that’s why we support all the resistance against this Indian regime,” he said. Those TOI spoke to said they were still angry about the events of 1984 anti-Sikh riots and many felt the only way to end the agitation against the new farm laws was creation of “an independent Sikh state”. One of the organisers, Punjab-born Gurpreet Singh, who moved to the UK aged 16, said the kisaan and Khalistan movements are together now. “Around 500 farmers have died in the protest. We want independence. Democracy is having a referendum; so why is a referendum not allowed to happen? In India Sikhism is not even considered a separate religion.” Punjab-born Sarbjit Singh, who moved to the UK in 1983, said the Sikh issues have been pending since 1983. “When the government attacked the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Sikhs then were protesting against farmers’ issues and diversion of water from the rivers of Punjab to other states.” He added the farm laws should be passed by the state, not the central government. “It is trying to establish a dictatorship under the name of democracy. We don’t feel safe in our homeland and we want to have our rights.” Gucharan Singh from Southall said he was opposed to the farm laws as they were taking resources away from ordinary people and giving them to large corporations. Some were protesting against the ongoing incarceration of Scottish Sikh Jagtar Singh Johal, accused of a murder conspiracy in Punjab. He was arrested in India in 2017 and currently languishing in Tihar jail. One man wore a black face mask saying “free Jaggi”. Meanwhile, a group handed out free roti and chai to protesters.

The Times of India

2021-08-16

World