Sir Keir Starmer is facing a nine-day deadline to avoid Labour MPs facing a ban from Sikh events and gurdwaras.
Hundreds of Sikh groups are threatening to “no platform” Labour MPs if the government does not announce an inquiry into alleged UK involvement in the Golden Temple massacre, and other “anti-Sikh measures” carried out by India during the Thatcher era, according to a letter seen by Sky News.
It comes as the Sikh Federation continues to call for the probe – saying it was promised in the run-up to the general election last year.
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The calls relate to questions around what part the UK and British special forces played in the 1984 killings, in which hundreds of Sikhs died after the Indian military entered the temple complex where separatists had sought refuge.
Previous limited investigations under David Cameron found a single British officer provided advice to the Indian government before the raid – but there was “no evidence of UK government involvement in the operation itself”.
Writing to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday, the Sikh Federation said it wanted a timeline of a judge-led inquiry to be confirmed by 31 July – Friday next week.
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The letter was sent to Downing Street ahead of a visit from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UK. There have been allegations that Mr Modi’s government has attempted to stymie the separatist Sikh movement, including through repression in the UK and other countries like Canada.
The allegations have been denied by the Indian government.
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Starmer’s promise
Sir Keir wrote to all Gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship, and Sikh organisations in 2022 saying “a future Labour government will open an independent inquiry into Britain’s military role in the Indian army’s 1984 raid on the Golden Temple in Amritsar”.
Angela Rayner posted on social media ahead of last year’s election that “Labour stands with the Sikh community in calling for an inquiry into the historic role Britain played” in the raid on the Golden Temple.
If the request for an inquiry timeline is not met by the government, the Sikh Federation told the prime minister it would “issue guidance in August on how Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations should implement the no platform policy in Gurdwaras and Sikh events that will in practice start to impact from September onwards”.
This guidance would apply to all Labour MPs who do not publicly support the implementation of an inquiry – including ministers.
The federation’s letter claims the issue was raised with Sir Keir earlier this month by a Labour MP and the prime minister “responded positively”.
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Among the close to 500 signatories to the letter from the Sikh Federation is the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick, West Midlands, where Sir Keir was pictured campaigning for the leadership of the Labour Party.
There are thought to be just over half a million Sikhs in the UK – with analysis suggestion members of the religion tend to support Labour.
Downing Street has been approached for comment.
