London, UK (KP) - The Sikh Federation (UK) criticized the Indian Government's unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of the UK Sikhs. The Indian Goverment attempted to seek a ban on the peaceful vigils held in the UK to protest the illegal detention of Sikh political activists in Indian jails. British Sikhs and UK politicians are outraged at Indian attempts to curb lawful protests by UK Sikhs Earlier this week thousands of Sikhs held candle lit vigils in over 100 cities worldwide to call for an immediate end to the death penalty in India and for the release of all Sikh political prisoners held in Indian jails. The Sikh Federation (UK) was the inspiration and organisational power behind the vigils not only in the UK, but across the globe. The Federation is a non-governmental organisation set up in September 2003 and often described as the first and only Sikh political party in the UK. The Indian Government response to the vigils, including those in Punjab, has been to attack the UK Government for supposedly giving political legitimacy to the Federation and criticism of the Metropolitan Police for allowing a candle lit vigil outside the UK Parliament after India called for it to be banned. The Federation and UK politicians are amazed at the Indian response revealed in the Times of India ('UK tolerance of Sikh groups worries India' - 20 January 2006) and the lengths to which India is prepared to go to escape criticism over its policy on the death penalty. The Chair of the Federation, Bhai Amrik Singh said: "We are astonished India feels threatened by peaceful candle lit vigils. India has shown its paranoia and refuses to accept criticism over its human rights record and outrageous policies. Not content with silencing the Sikh freedom movement in India through widespread human rights abuses since the late 1970s it has for the last five years set its sights on suppressing the Sikh voice of freedom in the Diaspora. It is obvious India has much to hide and even more to answer for. These pitiful tactics will not deter political activism, but strengthen our resolve to campaign even harder against India's systematic bigotry towards Sikhs." It is widely believed the real reasons for India's concern is the ever increasing importance of the Sikh Federation in the UK and with Sikhs throughout the world. The Federation has demonstrated in a relatively short space of time its huge influence is not only within the international Sikh community, but with politicians of all political parties in the UK and Europe. A Federation spokesman said: "Our strength is we are presenting a convincing case on behalf of the Sikh Nation through the use of innovative campaigning. This is attracting considerable interest from our own youngsters who we are keen should take the lead, politicians and more recently ordinary members of the public are beginning to champion our cause. India wishes to continue to present a false image of the Sikhs that it created in the 1980s and is resorting to unacceptable tactics that we are confident foreign governments will reject. How dare India try and dictate to the UK Government by seeking a ban on peaceful and legitimate protests by British citizens in the UK." As a direct result of the candle lit vigils British MPs have tabled motions in Parliament and UK MEPs have promised a written declaration in the European Parliament. The motion in the UK Parliament relating to the case of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar is urging the UK Government to do all it can in conjunction with the German Government and the European Union in making representations to the Indian authorities.

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