The highly acclaimed third edition of the Sikh Manifesto has been officially released.

For the last decade the Sikh Network has been producing the Sikh Manifesto ahead of General Elections.

The 32-page document is an invaluable briefing document for all politicians and political parties on the specific issues of concern to British Sikhs.

The 10-point Sikh Manifesto sets out key priorities to focus the minds of politicians and the next UK Government where the Sikh community is looking for action.

The Sikh Manifesto reflects a changing attitude of British Sikhs who are tired of politicians paying them lip-service and singing their praises as a role model community.  

Sikhs are demanding as British citizens that the UK Government put their needs as a minority and role model community ahead of relations and a trade agreement with the right wing Indian government.

There are a number of interesting revelations in the Sikh Manifesto, including:

• a huge expectancy that a Labour Government elected on 4 July will deliver on several key issues in the Sikh Manifesto; 
• predicting a large increase in the number of Labour Sikh MPs from two to at least fourteen, including several additional turban wearing Sikhs;
• new demands to confront transnational repression and political interference by the Indian government targeting Sikh activists in the UK; and 
• urgently addressing the global threat of Hindu extremism (Hindutva).

The Sikh Manifesto shows the Sikh vote is around one million and much higher than suggested by official statistics that are flawed and out of date.   

Political parties are worried about voter turnout as there is much disillusionment, upset and apathy about the quality of leadership and the state of British politics

The Sikh Manifesto makes clear Sikh voter turnout is expected to be the highest of all communities in part as the document itself motivates political engagement and participation in the election process.   

Labour is worried about losing traditional voters protesting over the handling of the Israel-Gaza issue making the need to secure the Sikh vote all the more important in over 80 constituencies listed in the Sikh Manifesto. 

The Sikh Manifesto is scathing about the attitude and actions of the Conservative government that has demonised the Sikh community in recent years and frustrated progress on a range of issues of direct concern to British Sikhs.  

The Sikh Federation (UK) has today (6 June 2024 and four weeks before General Election day) sent an advance copy of the Sikh Manifesto to the leaders of political parties for them to share with their candidates and requested a written response in the next two weeks.    

Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said: “Sikhs are at a political crossroad and many have lost trust in politicians who all too often make and break promises.

We are tired of politicians simply singing the praises of the Sikh community, paying us lip-service and describing us as a role model community.  We want to see actions and progress on the issues in the Sikh Manifesto.”

He added: “We have been working for the last 12-18 months on the assumption that there will be a Labour Government after 14 years.

We are optimistic following assurances from Keir Starmer and meetings with many senior Shadow Cabinet members that a Labour Government with at least fourteen Sikh MPs will deliver on key issues.

These include an independent judge-led public inquiry into the actions of the UK Government in relation to the 1984 Sikh Genocide, securing the immediate release of British national Jagtar Singh Johal, addressing Anti-Sikh hate on a par with Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and taking actions to stop discrimination against Sikhs because of their visible identity.”