The Indian Panorama

Tag: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

  • Indian origin British MP renews UK Parliament call for Bluestar probe

    Indian origin British MP renews UK Parliament call for Bluestar probe

    LONDON (TIP): British Sikh Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi has renewed his call in the House of Commons for an independent inquiry into the extent of the involvement of the then Margaret Thatcher-led Conservative government in Operation Bluestar in June 1984.

    The MP from Slough in south-east England called on the Labour Party government elected last year to launch the probe after previous Tory governments had “tried to brush the issue under the carpet.”

    In response to his parliamentary intervention on Thursday, Leader of the Commons Lucy Powell agreed it was a matter of “great importance to the Sikh community in the UK.”

    “In 1984, the global Sikh community suffered catastrophic collective trauma when the then Indian government ordered the storming of the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, which led to devastating destruction and bloodshed, with thousands of innocent people losing their lives,” said Dhesi.

    “Thirty years later, to our shock, new documents exposed that the Thatcher government had helped their Indian counterpart by providing advice prior to that military operation. In its pursuit for the truth and transparency, the British Sikh community duly launched a campaign for an independent inquiry to establish the extent of that involvement,” he said.

    “While previous Conservative governments have tried to brush the issue under the carpet, Sikhs expected the new Labour government to establish that promised independent inquiry. When will that be initiated?” he questioned.

    The first demand for an independent inquiry arose a few years ago when it emerged that British military advice was given to Indian forces before Operation Bluestar. The then British Prime Minister, David Cameron, had ordered an internal review into this discovery, which led to a statement in Parliament declaring that Britain’s role had been purely “advisory” and the Special Air Service advice had “limited impact” on Operation Bluestar.

    Dhesi has previously also raised the issue in Parliament and last week Powell said he was “absolutely right” to continue to raise it on behalf of the country’s Sikh community.

    “We need to get to the bottom of what happened, and I will ensure that the ministers responsible are in touch with him to discuss the matter further,” she said.

  • Indo-British MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi bats for air connectivity between UK, Punjab

    Indo-British MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi bats for air connectivity between UK, Punjab

    LONDON (TIP): Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, the first turban-wearing Sikh elected Member of Parliament in Britain, had a productive meeting in the UK Parliament with Caroline Rowett, the British Deputy High Commissioner to India. Expressing his enthusiasm, Dhesi, who is a native of Jalandhar, informed that he had discussed a wide array of topics aimed at strengthening ties, trade, and tourism between both nations; as well as the concerns of the diaspora around land disputes, British nationals imprisoned abroad and respect for human rights. Of particular importance was the urgent need for starting more direct flights between the UK and the Punjab at Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport in Amritsar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Chandigarh,” he added.
    Dhesi reiterated that he has been tirelessly advocating for direct air connectivity between the UK and Punjab with different international airlines, besides the government of India, as well as with the Punjab Government. He emphasized such direct flights would benefit the large NRIs residing in the UK and Europe, enabling them to conveniently visit their families and relatives in Punjab. Moreover, improved air connectivity with the North region of India would facilitate seamless travel options for passengers from northern states.
    Highlighting the significance of this demand, Dhesi stated, “We also need cheaper fares to ensure that everyone can afford to travel. The initiation of direct air routes between these destinations would not only enhance people-to-people contact, but also foster economic growth, cultural exchange and tourism opportunities for both regions.
    “It’s good that we have a small number of direct flights every week between Amritsar and both London Gatwick and Birmingham, but we also need daily flights between London Heathrow and Amritsar, since Heathrow is the major hub for connectivity to other destinations in North America,” he emphasized.

  • We stand up for the BBC: UK government in Parliament after India’s I-T survey

    We stand up for the BBC: UK government in Parliament after India’s I-T survey

    LONDON (TIP): The British government has strongly defended the BBC and its editorial freedom in Parliament after the Income-Tax department’s survey operations on the UK-headquartered media corporation’s New Delhi and Mumbai offices over three days last week. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) junior minister responded to an urgent question raised in the House of Commons on Tuesday, February 21,  to say that the government cannot comment on the allegations made by the I-T department over an “ongoing investigation” but stressed that media freedom and freedom of speech are essential elements of “robust democracies”.

    David Rutley, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of the FCDO, pointed to a “broad and deep relationship” with India which meant the UK was able to discuss a wide range of issues in a “constructive manner”.

    “We stand up for the BBC. We fund the BBC. We think the BBC World Service is vital. We want the BBC to have that editorial freedom,” said Rutley. “It criticizes us (government), it criticizes the (Opposition) Labour party, and it has that freedom that we believe is so important. That freedom is key, and we want to be able to communicate its importance to our friends across the world, including the government in India,” he said.

    Updating the Commons on the issue, the minister said India’s I-T department conducted what has been described as a survey on the BBC’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, beginning on February 14 and finishing after three days, on February 16.

    Highlighting that the BBC is “operationally and editorially independent”, the minister said the public broadcaster plays an important role and the FCDO funds services in 12 languages, including four Indian languages: Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi and Telugu.

    “It will continue to do so, because it is important to ensure that our voice — and an independent voice, through the BBC — is heard throughout the world,” he said.

    Pressed on by Opposition MPs on the “deeply worrying raids” and asked about discussions with the Indian government, the minister added: “It is because of our broad and deep relationship with India that we are able to discuss a wide range of issues in a constructive manner with its government. As part of those conversations, this issue has been raised and we continue to monitor the situation.” The urgent question was raised by Northern Ireland MP Jim Shannon, who branded the action a “deliberate act of intimidation following the release of an unflattering documentary about the country’s leader” and sharply criticized the UK government for failing to make a statement on the issue.

    “The raids happened seven days ago. Since then — I say this respectfully — there has been silence from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. No government statements have been issued, and it has taken an urgent question to encourage the government to condemn this blatant attack on press freedoms,” said Shannon, a member of Parliament for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). British Sikh Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi expressed his concerns that “India, a nation with which we have shared values of democracy and press freedoms, decided to conduct a raid on the BBC offices after the airing of a documentary critical of the Indian Prime Minister’s actions”. “These issues have absolutely been raised as part of those conversations,” the minister responded.

    Other Labour MPs pointed out that it was not the first time that the authorities in India had undertaken such “investigations into media organizations that are critical of the current government”.

    “We need to ensure that our views on media freedom are communicated clearly with other governments. We have those conversations not only with the government of India, but across the world. We think these are very important principles and, as I said, they are essential elements for robust democracies,” the minister said.

    “Our broad and deep relationship, guided by the comprehensive strategic partnership and the 2030 road map for India-UK future relations, allows us to discuss a wide range of issues in a constructive manner with the government of India. We continue to follow the matter closely,” he added.

    Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman, a vocal supporter of the Indian government, asked the minister to confirm if the I-T authorities in India have been investigating the BBC for seven years.

    The minister, however, declined to comment on “an ongoing investigation that the BBC is actively engaged in”.

    The I-T department said in a statement following the survey that the income and profits disclosed by the organization’s units were “not commensurate with the scale of operations in India”.

    (Source: PTI)

  • Indian-originMP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi honored for raising farmers’ issue in British Parliament

    Indian-originMP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi honored for raising farmers’ issue in British Parliament

    PHAGWARA , INDIA (TIP): Various farmers unions honored Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, MP from Slough, UK, at an event in Mauli village, Phagwara, on Friday, April 8,  for raising the farmers’ issue vociferously on the floor of the British Parliament during debates and questions during ‘Kisan Andolan’. At this special programme organized by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Doaba), farmer leaders and supporters of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha gathered in large numbers to show their appreciation for those who had shown solidarity during the largest protest on the planet. Dhesi spoke at length on the NRI support for the Indian farmers and the daily information updates he had received from many, especially his uncle Paramjit Singh Raipur, member SGPC, from Adampur. Dhesi said he had organized an initiative by drafting a letter which was signed by 36 MPs to the UK Foreign Minister so as to raise the human rights issue of the peacefully protesting farmers with the Indian Foreign Minister, which he duly did. Interacting with farmer leaders, he said he had penned another letter to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, signed by over 100 British MPs, to ensure that farmers were not mistreated by the authorities, when footage of the tear gas and lathicharge became viral. In his address, Dhesi raised various NRI issues, such as the need to have more direct flights from the UK to Amritsar and Chandigarh. UK MP also highlighted other ongoing work that he was leading on, involving constructing a memorial in central London for Sikh soldiers who served during the World Wars and promoting the marital art gatka by holding annual UK Gatka Championships for seven years.

  • Indian-origin British politician Dhesi expresses concern over arrest of activist Nodeep Kaur

    Indian-origin British politician Dhesi expresses concern over arrest of activist Nodeep Kaur

    Nirpal Singh Shergill in London

    LONDON (TIP): British Labour Party MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi on Wednesday, February 10, expressed concern over the arrest of labor rights activist Nodeep Kaur over the farmers’ agitation, saying the abuse of peaceful protest activists, especially women, is an affront to democracy and civilized society.

    “Alarmed to learn of sexual assault and torture allegations in police custody of Punjabi trade unionist Nodeep Kaur, who after four weeks hasn’t even been granted bail,” Dhesi tweeted. He added, “Abuse of peaceful farmers protest activists, especially women, is an affront to democracy and civilized society.” Earlier, Punjab-origin politician Dhesi had sent a letter, signed by over 100 MPs and Lords, to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the ongoing farmers’ protests, asking him to raise this matter with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi when they next liaise. On Monday, the Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes asked the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to ensure relief for Nodeep Kaur. The Commission also sought a report by February 23. It said it has taken suo motu notice of the issue since the woman is a resident of the state. Nodeep Kaur, 23, was arrested on January 12 during the farmers’ protest at Kundli in Haryana. Nodeep’s case came to the fore as US Vice President Kamala Harris’ niece Meena Harris claimed in a tweet that she was “tortured and sexually assaulted” in police custody.

    However, the police said she was facing serious criminal cases.