A bipartisan group of U.K. parliamentarians has urgently sought a meeting with UK security minister Tom Tugendhat in response to reports of “threat to life warnings” issued to British Sikhs amid growing apprehension about the treatment of Sikhs globally by the current Indian administration.
The request for the meeting follows allegations from Canada linking India to the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot outside a temple in Vancouver in June 2023.
Additionally, the US Department of Justice said that an Indian government official directed an unsuccessful plot to assassinate a Sikh activist in New York City.
The U.K. parliamentarians, including Labour MPs Preet Kaur Gill, Afzal Khan, and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, as well as Conservative Caroline Nokes and SNP’s Kirsten Oswald and Martin Docherty-Hughes, penned a letter to Minister Tugendhat, seeking reassurance on the safety of the British Sikh community.
In the letter, they express their concerns about Sikhs in the UK receiving “Osman notices” warning them of threats to their lives. The politicians cite increased tensions between the Indian government, its supporters, and Sikh separatist activists. They highlight the alleged extrajudicial killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and a foiled plot by an Indian government employee to assassinate Sikh attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US.
Referring to an intelligence ‘hit list’ that named Sikhs, including six British individuals, the letter emphasizes the need for the government to address threats against the British Sikh community. The MPs express their belief that any threat to life, irrespective of religion or belief, is abhorrent and must be strongly condemned.
The parliamentarians conclude the letter by requesting an urgent meeting with Minister Tugendhat to discuss threats against British Sikh community leaders and activists. They seek reassurance that the government is treating the issue seriously and taking appropriate steps to protect the community from unlawful threats or attacks.
In response to the situation, the UK government spokesperson stated, “The UK is proud of its diverse communities, and British Sikhs contribute immensely to the strength of our society. We continually assess potential threats in the UK and take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK seriously.”
