Raising Sikh Issues with the Coalition Government

The new coalition government requires fresh approach to the representation of British Sikh issues and concerns. 

When Sikh interface with the Government is discussed in the Sikh media and community forums, it is for lead personalities to respond to any criticism in a rational manner, defend own record and take the opportunities offered by journalistic scrutiny to highlight achievements, lessons learnt and the way forward. 

The main aim of columns like the “Spectrum” in this online community daily, is to combine journalism with analysis of community issues and concerns, and to arrive at constructive solutions. Too often the tendency is to read personal criticism by those who are equally dedicated to community work. It is difficult to strike a balance; yet, independent and questioning journalism is an important need of every progressive community. Recent exchanges on a Sikh cyber forum are relevant in this context, and also have a bearing on more effective Sikh interface with the new coalition Government. New opportunities have opened up, which should be grabbed without delay.      

As predicted, we have a hung Parliament. The main political parties are under pressure to work together for the sake of the country, and they appear to be willing to do that with the formation of the coalition government, bringing the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats together.

From the Sikh perspective, there is a positive way of looking at the outcome. While the two “Sikh identity” candidates have not won, they have not done too badly either, bearing in mind that both were fighting almost unwinnable secure Labour seats. Even the friends of the Sikhs in the Labour party were frustrated by the manner in which the Labour government had taken Sikh loyalty for granted and totally ignored the most urgent Sikh needs: to be counted and monitored in own right in Census 2011; and to have in place some sort of official code of practice regarding Sikh articles of faith.

In a democracy, the progressive Sikh organisations have adopted three sensible ways to secure their theo-cultural identity and interests: by lobbying; by resorting to legal action - as in the House of Lords’ Mandla case of 1983, and more recently the legal challenge to the Office for National Statistics – and, by voting tactically. 

At least one leading nationwide Sikh organisation, the British Sikh Federation, believes that a hung Parliament is not necessarily a bad result for the UK Sikhs. It may be argued that the Sikh negotiating position has been strengthened regarding their just rights. Due to effective pre-election meetings with senior level politicians of the main parties, including an interview with the Prime Minister by Derby Sikhs, all senior politicians are much more aware of real Sikh concerns at grassroots level. Recently, I met a senior Labour figure, Margaret Beckett (Derby South), and she seemed to be well aware of the disadvantages suffered by Sikhs due to non-monitoring of Sikh needs. (Margaret has been returned to the Parliament.)

The defeated Labour Party would be wondering if 700,000 Sikhs could have made a difference to their election results in many marginal seats, if the government had listened to the Sikh voice at grassroots level, instead of being misguided by the officials advising them. The Tories and Liberals are well aware of Sikh concerns. In a hung Parliament, with the threat of another general election hanging over them, the Sikh factor is bound to be an important component in their policy equation.

Meanwhile, Sikhs should continue keeping and developing links with old and new friends of the Sikhs in the Parliament. The new coalition government provides us with fresh opportunities for making progress on Sikh issues also highlighted by an impressive meeting of gurdwaras and organisations at Birmingham on 3 May, 2010. Having watched the proceedings on Sikh TV Channel, I thought that many gurdwaras and main jathebandis were represented. While the work of nationwide organisations in their respective fields was praised, continuing urgent need for national and European level Sikh representation through a nationwide assembly, was highlighted. Its functioning would depend on the finally agreed constitution, aims and objectives. Participation of young Sikhs and women in Sikh affairs needs more encouragement.  The proceedings of this meeting, watched on TV screens by Sikh audiences, points the way to the future in terms of accountability and transparency in Sikh affairs.

Overall, we remain an ignored community in the UK, still suffering from mistaken identity due to public and media ignorance about Sikh identity and ideology. There are background reasons for Sikh concerns which continue to be expressed.  However, there is raised political awareness amongst next generation Sikhs. Senior politicians of all parties are much better informed about Sikh issues and concerns due to pre-election local level meetings. Grassroots views about the need for proper Sikh count in Census 2011 and monitoring, and the need for religious freedom (through official guidelines), have been heard. 

A coalition government and the continual threat of another general election should provide the necessary incentive for the coalition government to be more attentive to Sikh needs.

Gurmukh Singh 
Sewauk2005@yahoo.co.uk