07/01/2022

Press Release for publication and circulation.

The British Sikh Association condemns the security breach which occurred during the visit of the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji.

The Prime Minister is a democratically elected Head of the Government and represents the entire nation, not just one State. Therefore, no one should undermine the authority of a leader who has to steer the country. It is a sad indictment of the security arrangements surrounding his visit that allowed a handful of an unruly mob to hamper the visit planned to exercise his democratic right to meet and greet the public.

In fact, the nation was waiting to see what message the Prime Minister had for the people of Punjab, whom he holds in the highest esteem. No other Prime Minister has done for the people of Punjab as Mr Modi Ji. He opened the Kartarpur Corridore to honour the religious feelings of the people. He has gone out of the way to promote the teachings and lives of Sikh Gurus in the world through the Indian diplomatic missions.

On an unparalleled scale, I recall how the Prime Minister celebrated the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of the Sikh faith Guru Nanak Dev Ji. In the same way, the 350th birth anniversary of the tenth Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the 400th birth anniversary of the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was acknowledged and celebrated through the efforts of Modi Ji. No other Indian Prime Minister has shown such reverence to the Sikh Gurus.

As a mark of respect for the Punjab farmers, Prime Minister Modi revoked the three farm bills enacted democratically by the Parliament. If anything, the people of Punjab should have shown their respect and gratitude to the Prime Minister for taking back those contentious bills that too on the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

The misguided people who disrupted the visit should realise that the Prime Minister had come to give more benefit to their State. By hampering the visit, they have impeded the development of Punjab as a whole. I urge the leaders of Punjab to extend an unequivocal apology to the Prime Minister and show their utmost remorse for the way he had to cut short his visit.

It is worth noting that the Prime Minister does not depend on Punjab for his strength in Parliament. In fact, Punjab depends on the Prime Minister’s goodwill for its future development. Being a border State, Punjab needs the central government to help fight terrorism and the drug epidemic unleashed by India’s neighbour with dire consequences to future generations.

Sadly, a great opportunity has been lost by the people of Punjab to show their admiration to the Prime Minister for his respect for the people of Punjab and their Gurus. I hope lessons will be learned, and the leaders and the people of Punjab will remember that there is no future for any disloyal citizen in India. We are one and must always stand as one.

Jai Hind,

Lord Rami Ranger CBE
Chairman