Britain’s Sikh community tightens grip, asks candidates to adhere to the manifesto

LONDON: Britain's Sikh community are tightening their grip over the outcome of the upcoming general election with the Sikh Federation writing to the main candidates in over 100 constituencies urging them to adhere to their recently released election manifesto demanding allocation of a site in central London for a permanent monument to Sikhs who lost their lives in the World War 1. 

The politically active Sikh community have also called for a statutory code of practice on items of the Sikh faith in order to prevent discrimination in the workplace and public spaces besides an independent inquiry into the actions of the British government in relation to the Amritsar and Delhi massacres of 1984. 

Bhai Amrik Singh, the chair of the Sikh Federation said each candidate in the 100 constituencies are being asked to provide a general endorsement of the Sikh manifesto and indicate those items they are prepared to specifically commit to and work on if elected. 

Singh said "So far the Labour leadership continue to take the Sikh vote for granted. We will publish a summary of the responses from candidates in the 100 constituencies one month before the general election on May 7. We are also planning meetings with the leadership of the main parties to get their commitment to specific issues that will be shared widely with the 700,000 strong Sikh community. Sikh voters will then look at both the support of the party as well as the individual candidates before casting their vote". 

with thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed news.