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Bibi Balvinder Kaur, Chair of the Sikh Women's
Alliance joined hundreds of fellow Sikhs for the
candle lit vigil outside Ilford Town Hall on 17
January. This formed part of the Worldwide Candle
Lit Vigils in over 100 towns/cities across the
globe co-ordinated by the Sikh Federation (UK).
Mike Gapes MP the Chair of the Foreign Affairs
Select Committee was approached by Bibi Balvinder
Kaur on the issue of death penalty in India, the
case of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar and
the treatment of Sikhs in Uttaranchal. Bibi Balvinder
Kaur is an active Labour Party member and has
been the Secretary of Mike Gape's Ilford South
constituency for the past three years.
Mike Gapes MP has forwarded the following reply
from Kim Howells MP, the Minister of State at
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in response
to Bibi Balvinder Kaur's representations. Extracts
from his letter are set out below:
'Thank you for your letter of 9th January to the
Foreign Secretary on behalf of your constituent
Balvinder Kaur Saund, Chairperson of Sikh Women's
Alliance about the case of Professor Davinderpal
Singh Bhullar and the treatment of Sikhs in India.
I am replying as Minister responsible for our
relations with India.
We are aware of the case of Davinderpal Singh
Bhullar, and share concerns over the use of the
death penalty in India. The UK opposes capital
punishment in all circumstances. The UK together
with EU partners calls upon all states to abolish
the death penalty. India's constitution only allows
for the death penalty in the 'rarest of rare cases'.
In conjunction with the EU, we have demarched
India about their use of the death penalty, most
recently in June 2004, and we will continue to
use every appropriate opportunity to press for
its abolition. We will continue to monitor this
case closely.
We also share Mrs. Saund's concern over religious
intolerance and minority discrimination in some
parts of India. She mentions specifically reports
about the alleged racial discrimination and abuse
of human rights of Sikhs living in Uttaranchal.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines
the rights of everyone to freedom of thought,
conscience and religion. The United Kingdom supports
this right in international fora and in individual
cases where it arises. We condemn all instances
where individuals are persecuted because of their
faith or belief, wherever they happen and whatever
the religion of the individual or group concerned.
Our High Commission in New Delhi continues to
monitor issues of religious freedom in India.
Our staff make regular calls to Indian authorities
flagging up our concern about incidents of religious
intolerance. We will continue to insist that the
right to freedom of religion is upheld, and that
those responsible for attacks against people on
grounds of their religion are brought to justice.'
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