UK PM must apologise for Amritsar massacre: Sikh body

Amritsar: UK based Sikh body, Sikh Federation, has stated that the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer must show the courage, humility and leadership to honour Labour's promise and issue a formal apology to the worldwide Sikh community for the Amritsar massacre. Jaspal Singh, lead executive, Sikh Federation (UK) , claimed that on the 100th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919, there was huge pressure on the then UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, to issue a formal apology to the worldwide Sikh community. "She stated in Parliament the massacre was a ‘tragedy' that was a ‘shameful scar' on British history. She referred to Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 describing the event as a ‘distressing example' of our history and we ‘deeply regret' what happened and the suffering caused," he said.He said that this was widely acknowledged as falling short of a formal apology. The Labour Leader at that time, Jeremy Corbyn, pushed for an apology and stated a Labour Prime Minister would put this right. This was also included in the Labour manifesto."Last year for Keir Starmer was the first opportunity as Prime Minister to make a formal apology, but Parliament was not sitting and an apology was avoided. Today is April 13 and Parliament is sitting. It is ironic he has invited Sikhs and Labour MPs with large numbers of Sikh constituents to attend a Vaisakhi reception at 10 Downing Street this evening," he said, adding that the opinion polls suggest the biggest reason why those who voted Labour in July 2024 are defecting is not delivering or breaking promises."Today is an opportunity for Keir Starmer to show before May 7 elections that he does not have the same mindset as Nigel Farage, and has the courage, humility and leadership by honouring a Labour promise and issue a formal apology for the Amritsar massacre," he added. MSID:: 130237609 413 |