Sikh activist’s turban ripped outside British Parliament
LONDON: The Theresa May government’s action plan on hate crime came under fire after a Sikh environment activist from Punjab was racially attacked outside the British parliament on Wednesday and his turban tugged by the suspected white attacker.
Ravneet Pal Singh, an activist with campaign group EcoSikh, was attacked as he was waiting in a queue to enter the Portcullis House to see Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, who became the first turban-wearing Sikh elected to the House of Commons in 2017.
A complaint was lodged with Scotland Yard, while the Sikh Federation (UK) criticised the May government for not consulting the United Kingdom’s Sikh community before drawing up its hate crime action plan in 2016.
Amrik Singh, chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said: “Sikhs are the most visible ethnic minority, especially those who wear turbans and been subject to unacceptable levels of hate since 9/11.”
“However, the hate crime action plan published by the government in July 2016 after the Brexit vote woefully failed the Sikh community by neglecting to acknowledge hate crimes against Sikhs, he said. “The Sikh community was ‘invisible’ and not consulted in drawing up the plan that focused on the more vocal Muslim and Jewish communities. We have been waiting for nearly two years for answers and a response from government.”
“The home secretary and communities secretary will be aware of this incident outside Parliament, but we fear they will continue to turn a blind eye on attacks on Sikhs,” he added.
City Sikhs, a local group, tweeted: “It is deeply upsetting to hear about this incident outside Parliament tonight. Our thoughts go out to the victim of this hate crime and we hope the police find the perpetrator very soon.” Singh told The Independent after the incident that the attacker man ran up to him before launching the unprovoked attack: “He was pulling my turban strongly. It half moved and I grabbed it. Before he could do anything else I shouted at him and he ran.”
“He made a racist comment in another language that I didn’t recognise. He was a white man, but he didn’t sound English. He said something like ‘Muslim go back’. He held my turban with both hands and kept shaking it”.
“My turban was almost down to my face. Then he also tried to injure my neck. I kept shouting what’s this, stop it. He did not budge. Soon security guards were there and he ran away.”
Dhesi tweeted: “Disgusted to discover today that someone filled with hatred tried to pull off the turban of one of my guests standing in line outside the UK Parliament. I hope the authorities will take urgent action”.