Thousands of Sikhs will be heading to London from all over the country to protest against the mass arrests of Sikh activists in Punjab.
Thousands of Sikhs will head to London to protest the mass arrests of Sikh activists in Punjab and the shutdown of Internet and texting in the country. Coaches will leave from Gurdwaras in Smethwick and Willenhall with many locals heading to protest on Wednesday March 22, outside the High Commission of India in London.
Indian authorities have blocked Internet access for about 27 million people in the state of Punjab for a third day in a row – one of the country’s most extensive blackouts in recent years. Punjab Police have released a statement confirming 78 arrests have been made amid a “crackdown” on Sikh activists they have described as “criminal” which so many Sikhs and non-Sikh have called false propaganda.
Many Sikh organisations have expressed concern and denied this statement as they claim to have seen online videos showing the arrest of Bhai Amritpal Singh (the individual who the police and government have accused of unclear charges). There are concerns this sets-up the possibility of a “fake encounter” killing of the Sikh leader. Amritpal is the leader of Waris Punjab De (Protectors of Punjab), a social reform activist group started by Deep Singh Sidhu, the actor turned activist who died last year.
Singh has been touring Punjab pushing an anti-drug message amid Punjab’s addiction epidemic, along with advocating support for Sikh sovereignty, which is a faith-based mandate for Sikhs. Sikh diaspora across the world are concerned as many are finding it difficult to communicate with their family and friends in Punjab.
Birmingham Live spoke with the organisers of the protest to better understand why the protest will be taking place. Jas Singh from Sikh Federation UK said: “Sikhs around the world have been shocked and deeply concerned about the unlawful and anti democratic actions of the Indian police in Punjab over the past 48hrs.” He also claimed: “Hundreds of Sikh youth have been abducted, arrested and detained without cause or legal basis. Many have been taken to undisclosed locations for torture interrogation, all under a state wide internet shutdown and blackout.
“To challenge this oppressive and illegal action of the Indian authorities, UK Sikh organisations and Youth Groups have called a mass National Protest outside the Indian Embassy on Wednesday 22 March, from 1-3pm and all on all those who stand up for human rights and democracy to attend and support.”
