Sikhs flay UK action over gurdwara row
LONDON: A large section of Britain’s Sikh community is incensed with one of the country’s largest gurdwaras and Warwickshire police for their ‘over-reaction’ to a protest that led to the arrest of 55 men, aged between 17 and 39, and a day-long armed cordon outside the shrine on Sunday.
Barring one, however, 54 others have been later released on bail even as investigations continue.
At the centre of the row is the concern of community members over weddings between Sikh and non-Sikh individuals. A resolution, passed by more than 180 gurdwaras in Britain last year, does not allow ‘Anand Karaj’ (marriage) ceremony between Sikh and non-sikh individuals.
According to Sikh groups, anticipating an ‘Anand Karaj’ ceremony between a Sikh and a non-Sikh on Sunday, a group of protesters entered Gurdwara Sahib Leamington Spa and Warwick, about 150 km northwest of London, in the morning. The protesters were carrying the usual ‘kirpan’.
But the management committee of the gurdwara – one of the largest outside India – called Warwickshire police, allegedly informing them that “masked men” had forced their entry, carrying bladed items other than ‘kirpans’. Police mounted an
ANTICIPATING A WEDDING CEREMONY BETWEEN A SIKH AND A NON-SIKH, A GROUP OF PROTESTERS ENTERED THE GURDWARA WITH ‘KIRPANS’ IN HAND
armed response around the gurdwara, including a helicopter.
There was no comment from the committee, but Gurjeet Singh of the Sikh Federation (UK) told HT: “We condemn the over-reaction by the police and the disgraceful and inexcusable behaviour by the management committee at Leamington Gurdwara that have unashamedly brought the law-abiding Sikh community into disrepute by fuelling false and sensationalised media reports.”
Warwickshire police admitted on Sunday evening that “blades seized so far have been ceremonial” and that “another nonceremonial weapon was seized”.
Jasdev Singh Rai of the British Sikh Consultative Forum said: “The issue of inter-faith marriages is complex. Most of the youth are brought up in UK. They are influenced by British idea of literal interpretation of law. “These youth tend to legalistically interpret complex aspects of Sikh tradition. There is a need for a wider debate and clarity from institutions such as Akal Takht for appropriate guidance.”