"Annual International Sikh Convention"

Annual International Sikh Convention
Organised by the Sikh Federation (UK)

Poster for the event

Sunday 19 September 2010 from 10am

At Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Sedgley Street, Wolverhampton


There are also TV, radio and newspaper adverts.

A link to the 1 min 12 seconds TV Promo is at:

www.sikhfederation.com or

http://vimeo.com/14620835

If you live in the UK contact your local Gurdwara and Sikh Federation branch about transport arrangements.

If you live abroad and plan to attend email info@sikhfederation.com ASAP.

Letter from the new Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for UK Sikhs to release at the Convention on Sunday 19 September

Below is the letter the Sikh Federation (UK) has obtained from Fabian Hamilton, the new Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for UK Sikhs, to release at the Convention on Sunday 19 September at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Sedgley Street, Wolverhampton.

The letter was mentioned by the Sikh Federation (UK) on the Sikh Channel on the programme on Saturday 11 September between 8-9pm. Emma Reynolds MP the Secretary of the APPG for UK Sikhs will be speaking about priorities at the Convention.

The letter will be re-produced in the Sikh Federation’s 2009-10 booklet, which will also be released on Sunday 19 September.

As indicated on the Sikh Channel programme there will be several other politicians speaking from different political parties and we are expecting some important announcements at the Convention.

Please try and attend.
Gurjeet Singh

                                                                                                                                                                               

Dear Friends,

I am sorry that I am unable to join you for the Sikh Federation’s Annual National Sikh Convention which is taking place on Sunday 19th September in Wolverhampton. I wanted to send my warmest greetings to all your delegates as the newly elected Chair of the All- Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for UK Sikhs. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be following in the footsteps of my dear friend and former colleague Rob Marris.

I thought that you would like to know that our immediate priorities for the APPG are:

• To persuade over 40,000 public bodies systematically to monitor Sikhs as an ethnic group, despite the categories in the 2011 Census. This will ensure a fair provision of public services to the Sikh community

• To make sure that the government keeps its promise to introduce a Code of Practice on Sikh articles of faith that is endorsed by Parliament – a breach of the Code would be taken into account by tribunals and courts when dealing with any dispute arising out of the implementation of the Code

• To press for a radical improvement in how the government engages with the Sikh community through better consultation with organisations like the Sikh Federation (UK)


The APPG also has the challenge of taking up international issues on behalf of UK Sikhs and include:

• Taking up Sikh identity and human rights issues at an international level.

• Ensuring the exclusion from the UK of individuals directly involved in torture, fake encounters, disappearances, genocide and other crimes against humanity.

• Supporting the Sikh campaign for justice for the June and November 1984 massacres.

• Support for a change to Article 25 of the Indian Constitution and laws, such as the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, so the Sikh faith is properly recognised by the Constitution.

• Because of the continued injustices against Sikhs in the Indian sub-continent to support the Sikhs’ legitimate right to national self-determination.

I hope that our priorities meet with your approval and I look forward to a strong working relationship between this Parliament and all Sikhs living in the United Kingdom. Your contribution to the health and welfare of our economy and society is a source of pride to all UK citizens, whether Sikh or non-Sikh.

With all my best wishes,

Yours sincerely,
Fabian Hamilton
Labour Member of Parliament for Leeds North East