Sikh Labour MP under fire over tweet about Golden Temple killing

BRITAIN’S first Sikh female MP and a member of the shadow cabinet, Preet Kaur Gill, came under fire on social media last month over a tweet she later deleted that referred to a “Hindu terrorist” behind the killing of a man at Golden Temple in Amritsar.

The man, who was reportedly beaten to death in December for “sacrilege”, had allegedly barged into the inner sanctum where the

Guru Granth Sahib [holy book] is kept. He had grabbed a ceremonial sword placed next to the book before being overpowered by guards and worshippers.

Responding to a video allegedly showing the incident which was posted on Twitter by a UK immigration lawyer Harjap Bhangal, Labour MP Gill went on to agree with his message that it was a “clear act of terrorism”.

The shadow international development secretary’s now deleted Twitter post read: “Hindu terrorist prevented from an act of violence at the Sikh Holy shrine of Harminder Sahib (Golden Temple) against Sikhs.”

Gill’s reaction prompted widespread outrage on social media, with some questioning whether the politician was “trying to make this communal?”

The High Commission of India in London condemned the tweet and raised concerns over its impact on the Indian diaspora communities in the UK.

“The High Commission of India is constrained to unequivocally repudiate the public comment by a Member of the British Parliament regarding a crime that occurred in India even before the Indian law enforcement authority could investigate or comment or declare their finding,” an Indian High Commission spokesperson said.

“The High Commission of India is concerned at the effect that such commentary by a foreign MP may have on inter communal harmony and peace in the British Indian community,” the spokesperson added.

The tweet was

deleted

soon afterwards by the MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, and replaced with a more general comment about places of worship.

“No place of worship or community should be targeted in this way. Awful scenes from Harmandir Sahib,” the new tweet said.

Local police in Amritsar said the man was found dead when officers arrived at the scene and an investigation is underway.