25,000 Sikhs Commemorate 40th Anniversary of June 1984 Genocide in London
Approximately 25,000 Sikhs gathered in London to mark the 40th anniversary of the June 1984 Sikh Genocide. They marched through the city and held a Freedom Rally in Trafalgar Square. The first such march occurred on June 10, 1984.
At Trafalgar Square, attendees learned that UK government papers revealed attempts by the Indian high commissioner to thwart the initial protest. He proposed the internment of UK Gurdwara presidents, which the Home Office rejected. Further, it was suggested that Sikh protesters in London might be lethally dealt with, a proposal communicated via telex by the British High Commissioner in Delhi to the Foreign Secretary, Geoffrey Howe.
The anniversary event precedes the general election by less than three weeks. Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper have made promises. They committed to launching an independent inquiry into the UK’s involvement in the 1984 events if Labour won the expected election.
On the anniversary, we also highlighted ongoing issues, such as the transnational repression of Sikh activists by India and the unresolved death of Avtar Singh Khanda in the UK.
The Sikh Federation (UK) emphasized the ongoing struggle for a Sikh homeland and the need for international support for Sikh sovereignty. They criticized the current UK government’s handling of Sikh issues and expressed hope for change under a potential Labour government.
