Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Sikhs in Census

Mention of Sikhs from the Official Parliamentary Hansard records regarding Sikh ethnicity in the census. See link below

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm081126/text/81126w0055.htm


British Sikh Federation
Kashmir Singh

The UK Parliamentary records for 26 Nov 2008 show an overwhelming demand for Sikh ethnic group monitoring in census 2011, see extract below.

We need Sikh ethnic group monitoring to make sure that we get equality of opportunity, our fair share of jobs and promotions, our fair share of government grants to Sikh businesses and gurdwaras, our fair share of delivery of services by public and private sector organisations, our fair share of public appointments, etc. It is time to end the institutional racism against UK Sikhs. Most of the political parties in the UK support the Sikhs on this matter (Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Scottish Nationalists, Welsh Nationalists, many Labour Party MPs). Whilst some Labour Party Government Ministers have also given their support, the Labour Party to date has not done so; as such the Labour Party is likely to lose support at the next General Election.

In India, Sikhs are monitored in the national census and for public jobs. The Indian census monitors the state that you live in, religion, caste, tribe, etc; the different types of groups of people are monitored, and not just as 1 Indian category. Senior leaders within India have made it clear that the UK Government should monitor UK Sikhs as an ethnic group where such groups are monitored, and as a religion where such groups are monitored, e.g. Tarlochan Singh (National Minorities Commission Chairman at the time), Joginder Singh Vedanti (Akal Takhat Jathedar at the time), Simranjit Singh Mann (Shiromani Akal Dal Amritsar leader at the time), Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, etc. Sikhs are both a separate religion and a Qaum (Nation).

BSF website at www.british-sikh-federation.org

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