Dabinderjit Singh

Lead Executive @SikhFedUK | Founder @TheSikhNet | OBE in 2000: Equal Opps & representing Sikhs #SikhManifesto #FreeJaggiNow | Tweets are my personal views

[Dabinderjit Singh @Dabinderjit]

After >33 years of public service I’ve retired early to prepare for new challenges. 22 years ago received an OBE: contribution to equal opportunities & work at @NAOorguk. I broke a glass ceiling & became youngest Director at NAO. 🙏for hundreds of messages for an end of an era🙏

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Congratulations to @AndyBurnhamGM on his massive victory in #makerfield

We remember briefing you and @lynbrownmp for this debate in March 2016.

You were shocked with what @Dabinderjit told you about Jack Straw as Home Secretary not being convinced about the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) in February 2001 being added to the list of 21 organisations to be banned, but @FCDOGovUK officials said it was in British interests despite Special Branch and MI5 having no difficulty with the ISYF existing in the UK.

We know you independently confirmed with former Labour Ministers the ISYF was banned for political reasons and this is why you not only attended the debate as Shadow Home Secretary, but chose to twice challenge the @Conservatives @ukhomeoffice Minister, John Hayes on diplomatic pressure applied by the Indian government.

We look forward to working with you as Prime Minister and your new team, especially your new Foreign Secretary on the four matters we wrote to you about on 22 May where the @UKLabour leadership made pledges in Opposition and Government.

[Dabinderjit Singh @Dabinderjit]

Hoping our exposure yesterday in the @guardian & @SkyNews of @Nigel_Farage for his outrageous “pure, cold rage” remark & @reformparty_uk illogical & discriminatory policy espoused by @ZiaYusufUK may have made it easier for @AndyBurnhamGM to have taken the #makerfield seat today.

[Dabinderjit Singh @Dabinderjit]

Hoping our exposure yesterday in the @guardian & @SkyNews of @Nigel_Farage for his outrageous “pure, cold rage” remark & @reformparty_uk illogical & discriminatory policy espoused by @ZiaYusufUK may have made it easier for @AndyBurnhamGM to have taken the #makerfield seat today.

[Dabinderjit Singh @Dabinderjit]

Demand statutory public inquiry into Henry Nowak’s death - Sign the Petition!

https://t.co/grZib5jBtY via @UKChange

[Dabinderjit Singh @Dabinderjit]

Demand statutory public inquiry into Henry Nowak’s death - Sign the Petition!

https://t.co/grZib5jBtY via @UKChange

[Dabinderjit Singh @Dabinderjit]

It has been a long day. Thank you for all the messages of support for the seva.

🙏🙏🙏

[Dabinderjit Singh @Dabinderjit]

Great to be interviewed by @SophyRidgeSky and @WilfredFrost and not appear only as a paper reviewer.

[Dabinderjit Singh @Dabinderjit]

Yesterday was tough with these two massive issues. @AndyBurnhamGM woukd have seen this in the @ManchesterEven

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Speech given by @Dabinderjit at the @BakDovl addressing the question:

Does the June 1984 Indian state violence constitute a Genocide?

He told academics, students, politicians and Sikh representatives from across the globe at Baku State University on 3 June that it was necessary to prove genocide by the Indian state in an international or national court.  

The ‘Amritsar: June 1984 – Transnational Repression as a Continuation of Genocide’ conference was organised by the @bakuinitiative

The Sikh Federation International @SikhFedIntl is exploring the possibility of launching a prosecution working with NGOs in up to a dozen friendly countries that are sympathetic to the Sikh cause.  

Alarm bells will be ringing in Delhi not knowing which countries are sympathetic to the Sikh cause following transnational repression by the Indian government targeting Sikh activists.

[Baku Initiative Group @bakuinitiative]

International Sikh Federation’s members visit to Baku.

@SikhFedUK @SikhFedCanada

[Dabinderjit Singh @Dabinderjit]

Being in Baku with @bakuinitiative & meeting Parliamentarians, trying to trace links with Guru Nanak Dev Ji & speaking at @BakDovl was a privilege, but also tough with what was happening in the UK

Someone suggested I should be cloned!

One @Dabinderjit is enough for many 😂

[Baku Initiative Group @bakuinitiative]

International Sikh Federation’s members visit to Baku.

@SikhFedUK @SikhFedCanada

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Hopefully all UK politicians on all sides watched or will watch @Dabinderjit speak with @SophyRidgeSky and @WilfredFrost this morning on @SkyNews so eloquently about a very difficult and challenging issue with the tragic death of Henry Novak.

Politicians need to learn from @Dabinderjit and recognise the Sikh community has acted impeccably throughout and back the public inquiry suggested by the @SikhFedUK as the police, @CPSUK and the courts have failed Henry Novak and the Sikh community.

Many politicians that have met, know and worked with @Dabinderjit have never failed to be impressed by his in-depth knowledge, experience and the ability to connect through excellent communication skills.

Civil servants need to engage with the new leadership of @SikhFedUK to deal with Anti-Sikh hate (it will be 25 years since 9/11 in a few months), a statutory Code of Practice on the Sikh articles of faith (that is desperately needed due to ignorance) that was raised by Rob Marris MP in 2005, more than 20 years ago with a Labour Government Minister.

[Dabinderjit Singh @Dabinderjit]

Great to be interviewed by @SophyRidgeSky and @WilfredFrost and not appear only as a paper reviewer.

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Hopefully all UK politicians on all sides watched or will watch @Dabinderjit speak with @SophyRidgeSky and @WilfredFrost this morning on @SkyNews so eloquently about a very difficult and challenging issue with the tragic death of Henry Novak.

Politicians need to learn from @Dabinderjit and recognise the Sikh community has acted impeccably throughout and back the public inquiry suggested by the @SikhFedUK as the police, @CPSUK and the courts have failed Henry Novak and the Sikh community.

Many politicians that have met, know and worked with @Dabinderjit have never failed to be impressed by his in-depth knowledge, experience and the ability to connect through excellent communication skills.

Civil servants need to engage with the new leadership of @SikhFedUK to deal with Anti-Sikh hate (it will be 25 years since 9/11 in a few months), a statutory Code of Practice on the Sikh articles of faith (that is desperately needed due to ignorance) that was raised by Rob Marris MP in 2005, more than 20 years ago with a Labour Government Minister.

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Yesterday was a massive challenge in London managing the media and messaging to strike the right balance in remembering the thousands of Sikhs who lost their lives 42 years ago and addressing the Anti-Sikh hate that has been unleashed in the UK.

These interviews were given yesterday knowing we had put off announcing our call for a public inquiry until today.

Our press release and the letter to @ShabanaMahmood @DavidLammy @attorneygeneral today stated:

“By allowing a convicted murderer's false characterisation of the weapon to stand unchallenged in open court, the justice system facilitated a highly damaging wave of misinformation.

“This lack of judicial and prosecutorial clarity has triggered inappropriate political commentary, brought a sacred article of the Sikh faith into disrepute, and directly resulted in a surge of targeted hate speech, verbal abuse, and violent physical attacks against the visible Sikh community across the UK.

“The state has fundamentally failed in its duty to safeguard the British Sikh community from this predictable fallout.”

We continue to get reports of serious Anti-Sikh hate, but we have not seen messages of support from the leaders of political parties.

@Keir_Starmer @KemiBadenoch @EdwardJDavey @Nigel_Farage @StephenFlynnSNP @LSRPlaid @ZackPolanski remain silent despite @Dabinderjit’s live appeal on @SkyNews with @SophyRidgeSky and @WilfredFrost this morning.

The one exception is @TiceRichard who has stated in a tweet in the last hour:

“We clearly need a full inquiry into Hampshire Police actions and circumstances in the years up to the horrific murder to identify whether prior failures meant this was a preventable death.

“I have had multiple discussions with Sikh leaders on the Henry Nowak tragedy.”

🙏🙏🙏

We have 650 MPs that must all have watched or read the news today about our call for a public inquiry. Please share your views and show leadership like our community leaders from the @SikhFedUK

[Dabinderjit Singh @Dabinderjit]

Yesterday was tough with these two massive issues. @AndyBurnhamGM woukd have seen this in the @ManchesterEven

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Yesterday was a massive challenge in London managing the media and messaging to strike the right balance in remembering the thousands of Sikhs who lost their lives 42 years ago and addressing the Anti-Sikh hate that has been unleashed in the UK.

These interviews were given yesterday knowing we had put off announcing our call for a public inquiry until today.

Our press release and the letter to @ShabanaMahmood @DavidLammy @attorneygeneral today stated:

“By allowing a convicted murderer's false characterisation of the weapon to stand unchallenged in open court, the justice system facilitated a highly damaging wave of misinformation.

“This lack of judicial and prosecutorial clarity has triggered inappropriate political commentary, brought a sacred article of the Sikh faith into disrepute, and directly resulted in a surge of targeted hate speech, verbal abuse, and violent physical attacks against the visible Sikh community across the UK.

“The state has fundamentally failed in its duty to safeguard the British Sikh community from this predictable fallout.”

We continue to get reports of serious Anti-Sikh hate, but we have not seen messages of support from the leaders of political parties.

@Keir_Starmer @KemiBadenoch @EdwardJDavey @Nigel_Farage @StephenFlynnSNP @LSRPlaid @ZackPolanski remain silent despite @Dabinderjit’s live appeal on @SkyNews with @SophyRidgeSky and @WilfredFrost this morning.

The one exception is @TiceRichard who has stated in a tweet in the last hour:

“We clearly need a full inquiry into Hampshire Police actions and circumstances in the years up to the horrific murder to identify whether prior failures meant this was a preventable death.

“I have had multiple discussions with Sikh leaders on the Henry Nowak tragedy.”

🙏🙏🙏

We have 650 MPs that must all have watched or read the news today about our call for a public inquiry. Please share your views and show leadership like our community leaders from the @SikhFedUK

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

The Sikh Federation (UK) @sikhfeduk has written to the Home Secretary @ShabanaMahmood Justice Secretary @DavidLammy Attorney General @attorneygeneral calling for a statutory public inquiry into the preventable death of Henry Novak, police conduct and institutional failures to unnecessarily bring the sacred Sikh Kirpan into disrepute.

The following broadcast is going out as an exclusive on @SkyNews since this morning.

This is an opportunity for the leaders of all political parties @Keir_Starmer @KemiBadenoch @EdwardJDavey @Nigel_Farage @ZackPolanski @StephenFlynnSNP @LSRPlaid etc. to examine our submission, the scope of the inquiry, suggested terms of reference and come together for Henry Novak’s family and stand with the law-abiding Sikh community as there has been catastrophic multi-agency failures surrounding the tragic death of 18-year-old Henry Novak, the operational conduct of the responding officers, and the severe institutional and cultural failures during the subsequent criminal trial at Southampton Crown Court.

While criminal justice has been served against the perpetrator, the wider systemic failures exposed by this case demand immediate, independent, and transparent investigation.

A non-statutory or internal review cannot address the cross-jurisdictional failures of the police, the CPS, and the courts. A statutory public inquiry is the only mechanism capable of delivering accountability.

@Dabinderjit will be live on Sky News at around 8.15am.

[Dabinderjit Singh @Dabinderjit]

It has been a long day. Thank you for all the messages of support for the seva.

🙏🙏🙏

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

The Sikh Federation (UK) @sikhfeduk has written to the Home Secretary @ShabanaMahmood Justice Secretary @DavidLammy Attorney General @attorneygeneral calling for a statutory public inquiry into the preventable death of Henry Novak, police conduct and institutional failures to unnecessarily bring the sacred Sikh Kirpan into disrepute.

The following broadcast is going out as an exclusive on @SkyNews since this morning.

This is an opportunity for the leaders of all political parties @Keir_Starmer @KemiBadenoch @EdwardJDavey @Nigel_Farage @ZackPolanski @StephenFlynnSNP @LSRPlaid etc. to examine our submission, the scope of the inquiry, suggested terms of reference and come together for Henry Novak’s family and stand with the law-abiding Sikh community as there has been catastrophic multi-agency failures surrounding the tragic death of 18-year-old Henry Novak, the operational conduct of the responding officers, and the severe institutional and cultural failures during the subsequent criminal trial at Southampton Crown Court.

While criminal justice has been served against the perpetrator, the wider systemic failures exposed by this case demand immediate, independent, and transparent investigation.

A non-statutory or internal review cannot address the cross-jurisdictional failures of the police, the CPS, and the courts. A statutory public inquiry is the only mechanism capable of delivering accountability.

@Dabinderjit will be live on Sky News at around 8.15am.

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

This was broadcast on @BBCSouthNews at 6.30pm today.

The key points are:

-       Sikhs are unequivocal in their condemnation of the murder of Henry Novak committed by Digwa

-       the terrible actions of one person should not be used to demonise the law-abiding Sikh community and penalise fully practising Sikhs

-       a massive increase in Anti-Sikh hate crimes that requires urgent government action – a letter has been sent to the Home Secretary

-       members of the Sikh community have reiterated the weapon used in the murder was NOT a Kirpan

The BBC has requested and is waiting on the police or the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) @CPSUK to provide a photograph of the murder weapon that will prove it was NOT a Kirpan.  

Politicians that have jumped on the bandwagon @RobertJenrick @RupertLowe10 @aliciakearns @ZiaYusufUK @DavidDavisMP and others @TheBritLad @MyLordBebo @RealDonKeith @CDP1882 @TateTheTalisman that have talked about banning the Kirpan should demand to urgently see an image of the murder weapon.

An apology should be forthcoming to the Sikh community when they realise it has been misrepresented by the CPS witness in court as a Kirpan and incorrectly reported by the media.  Judge William Mousley KC should take serious note of this blunder.

The word Kirpan comes from two Punjabi words: Kirpa (mercy, grace, or kindness) and Aan (honor or dignity). It symbolizes the belief that strength and power must always be guided by compassion and moral responsibility.

Those calling for the ban on the Kirpan will realise the murder weapon was in fact a Persian dagger specifically engineered to pierce chainmail and heavy textile armour.

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

The entire Sikh community has been "demonised" as one individual has broken the law and been found guilty of murder.

The murder weapon was NOT a Kirpan (one of the 5 Ks), it has a different name that does not start with K, but the @CPSUK is refusing to share an image of the murder weapon with @BBCNews @SkyNews @PA @thetimes etc. after the case concluded last Thursday.

It was incorrectly described as a Kirpan in court and media reporting. @Dabinderjit @SikhFedUK wrote to @ShabanaMahmood @LabourSJ @Nesil_Caliskan and hope Judge William Mousley KC makes this clear when sentencing on Monday or it will be a massive disservice to the Sikh community.

Sensible politicians like @DavidDavisMP @aliciakearns that have made the mistake of calling for restrictions on the Kirpan based on this misinformation should distance themselves from @RupertLowe10 @RobertJenrick @ZiaYusufUK

https://t.co/sXzUvpf8Ky

[Sikh Federation (UK) @SikhFedUK]

Below is the open letter that went to all @UKLabour MPs.

The letter suggests an urgent need for a timetable to elect a new leader that will signal a change of direction.

It also sets out where the new Prime Minister and Ministers need to honour promises made to the Sikh community.

https://t.co/vuVbHKFGOr

@AndyBurnhamGM @AngelaRayner @wesstreeting @CatherineWest1 @ShabanaMahmood @YvetteCooperMP @DavidLammy