WRITTEN EVIDENCE SUBMITEED BY DAL KHALSA UK

(TRUK0073)

Introduction

On behalf of Dalkhalsa UK, we express deep concern over the escalating incidents of transnational repression targeting the Sikh community within the United Kingdom. Evidence indicates that Indian government agents, in collaboration with Hindu nationalist supporters, are orchestrating a campaign involving assassinations, abductions, and harassment against Sikhs and their families residing in the UK. This submission aims to highlight these violations and calls for immediate action, including the prohibition of Hindu nationalist groups promoting violence both domestically and internationally.

Transnational Repression of Sikhs

Recent reports have unveiled a disturbing pattern of transnational repression directed at Sikh communities abroad. In May 2024, U.S. Congressman Eric Swalwell acknowledged credible evidence of the Indian government's involvement in a campaign targeting Sikhs in the United States and Canada, which included a murder-for-hire plot against prominent Sikh figures

REPRESENTATIVE SWALWELL

. Similarly, the Sikh Coalition's report, "So Many Targets," documents numerous instances where Sikhs have been surveilled, harassed, and threatened by Indian operatives beyond India's borders

SIKH COALITION

.

Within the UK, there have been alarming reports of British Sikhs facing harassment and intimidation linked to Indian authorities. In December 2024, Security Minister Dan Jarvis emphasized that the UK would not tolerate such actions by foreign entities, following complaints from Sikhs about being stopped at UK airports and interrogated about their political beliefs

THE GUARDIAN

. These incidents not only violate individual rights but also instill fear within the Sikh community, undermining their sense of security and belonging.

Call for Prohibition of Violent Hindu Nationalist Groups

The activities of Hindu nationalist organizations promoting violence pose a significant threat to communal harmony and public safety. These groups have been implicated in orchestrating unrest, such as the Leicester riots, which were reportedly fueled by extremist elements seeking to incite division

GOV.UK

. Their ideology, rooted in intolerance and aggression, not only endangers minority communities but also contravenes the UK's commitment to multiculturalism and human rights.

Recommendations

Comprehensive Investigation: We urge the UK government to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of Indian agents and their affiliates operating within the UK who are involved in the harassment, intimidation, or harm of Sikh individuals and their families.

Legislative Measures: Implement laws to ban organizations that propagate Hindu nationalist extremism and violence, ensuring they are unable to operate or spread their harmful ideology within the UK.

Community Protection Initiatives: Develop and support programs aimed at safeguarding minority communities, particularly Sikhs, from transnational repression and domestic hate crimes.

International Collaboration: Work in conjunction with allied nations to address and counteract the global networks facilitating transnational repression, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable.

Conclusion

The Sikh community in the UK has long been an integral part of the nation's multicultural fabric. The rising instances of targeted aggression by Indian agents and Hindu nationalist supporters are a direct affront to the values of freedom, justice, and equality. Dalkhalsa UK calls upon the UK government to take decisive action to protect its citizens from foreign interference and domestic extremism, ensuring that all communities can live without fear of persecution.

(Feb 2025)