The Sikh Federation (UK), the first and only Sikh political party in the UK, will on Monday 20 June be meeting in Westminster with key Labour Members of Parliament close to Tony Blair to push for them to ensure the UK Prime Minister takes up the case of pro-Sikh independence protagonists, such as Kanwarpal Singh Bittu, Sarbjit Singh Ghuman and Simranjit Singh Mann. The meeting organised at short notice will deal with a number of important issues that the Sikh Federation (UK) wish to be communicated to Tony Blair before the UK visit of Manmohan Singh, the Indian Prime Minister. A Federation spokesman said: "We will be highlighting the unacceptable situation in India whereby a peaceful public display of support for an independent sovereign Sikh state, on the 21st anniversary of the June 1984 Indian Army attack on the Darbar Sahib, has been met with arrests and charges of sedition". Dal Khalsa activists have been charged for carrying Nishan Sahibs, pictures of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the greatest Sikh of the 20th Century and photographs of the Akal Takht that was destroyed in the Indian army assault in June 1984. Shromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) activists have been booked for sedition for delivering "anti-national" speeches and raising "slogans of freedom" at several Ghallughara events. Speaking on 11 June Simranjit Singh Mann had warned demonstrations would be held against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his proposed visit to New York in mid-July if the police arrested him. Sikhs abroad have said if the Khalistan protagonists that were exercising their right to free speech and who have been arrested are not released quickly, there will be protests in several countries with large numbers of Sikhs. A Federation spokesman said: "We believe it is our duty to take up the case of the right of freedom of speech of all pro-Sikh independence activists in Panjab. One way we will be doing this is to immediately take this matter up with UK Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister. We are well aware of Manmohan Singh's invite and visit to the UK during the G8 Conference in Gleneagles, Scotland on the 7-8 July. We know Manmohan Singh will be in Gleneagles on the 7 July and are aware of at least two other venues where he will be on 8 July. Young Sikhs (UK) supported by the Sikh Federation (UK) are already planning a sit down protest by young Sikhs to highlight the need to resolve the dastaar issue in France. However, the protest may be expanded given the lack of action on the November 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms, poor treatment and portrayal of Sikh political activists in recent months under the Manmohan Singh Prime Ministership. The Sikh Federation (UK) have many supporters, associates, admirers and partners across the globe and are aware Sikhs have already or are in the process of raising a number of issues in the context of the G8 Conference. Our objective has been to get across our message to four of the eight G8 leaders. Sikhs in Germany and Canada have already met with Chancellor Shroeder and Prime Minister Paul Martin and Sikhs in the UK and USA have been lobbying Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush via MPs and members of Congress respectively. One issue that is expected to be raised with all the leaders and in the presence of Manmohan Singh is that of religious freedoms in France and the dastaar in particular. The Federation spokesman concluded the press statement by cautioning the Indian Government about its heavy handed approach saying: "The Congress and Manmohan Singh should have learnt lessons from their past mistakes and avoid further confrontation with the Sikhs".

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