Given the dramatic developments in Canada, the place PM Trudeau has stated there may be credible proof to counsel India was concerned within the killing of a Canadian Sikh, it’s unsurprising that rumours now swirl across the deaths of different Sikh activists all over the world, together with within the UK.

Avtar Singh Khanda, 35, was well-known for his help of the creation of a breakaway Sikh homeland, Khalistan.

He died from a sudden sickness in Birmingham in June, and a few of these near him insinuate there was foul play concerned.

West Midlands Police say they totally reviewed the case and there have been no suspicious circumstances and that there isn’t a must re-investigate.

But British Sikhs have lengthy talked about feeling underneath undue strain, because the Indian authorities has overtly demanded that the UK authorities do extra to stamp out “extremism” throughout the group.

Gurpreet Johal is a lawyer and Labour councillor from Dumbarton. He says he entered politics due to what occurred to his household.

Six years in the past, Gurpreet’s brother Jagtar – a well-known pro-Khalistan and Sikh rights activist – went to India to get married.

Mr Johal’s household says that within the city of Rami Mandi in Punjab, he was pressured into an unmarked automobile. He has been in jail ever since accused of extremist actions.

Jagtar Johal says he was tortured and compelled to signal confession statements. It took years for him to be charged and he has by no means been tried.

“Fair play to Justin Trudeau,” says Gurpreet Johal. “The Canadian prime minister has stood up for his citizens, whereas the UK government has failed to do so.”

The human rights group Reprieve says it has compelling proof that Mr Johal’s arrest in India adopted a tip-off from British safety businesses.

British Sikh organisations expressed outrage at that, but in addition at the truth that even after a UN working group known as for the discharge of Jagtar Johal – saying his detention had been made on arbitrary and discriminatory grounds – the UK authorities has did not do the identical.

“It seems like the UK government cares more about getting a trade deal with India than it does about its citizens,” says Mr Johal.

The Foreign Office has stated that calling for Jagtar Johal’s launch wouldn’t assist issues and should even make issues worse. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he’s “committed to seeing Mr Johal’s case resolved as soon as possible”.

There are sturdy ties between India and the UK, however the problem of Sikh activism in Britain is often raised by Indian officers.

In March this yr, Prime Minister Modi’s administration expressed its concern when Sikh rights and pro-Khalistan protestors vandalised the Indian High Commission in London throughout an indication. The Indian authorities reiterated its frequent name for Britain to cope with “extremism”.

After its peak within the Eighties, help for a breakaway Sikh homeland waned in India, with all main political events strongly against the concept. But it has seen a resurgence lately, notably within the Sikh diaspora.

For essentially the most half, pro-Khalistan help within the UK has taken the type of peaceable activism, and the stress between Delhi and London can generally be over what constitutes “extremism” and what’s freedom of political expression. But there have been events when violence has been used.

In 2014, whereas on a go to to London, retired Indian basic Kuldeep Singh Brar was attacked and had his face and throat slashed with a knife.

In 1984, at a time of rising unrest and agitation for a Sikh state, Lt Gen Brar had led the Indian military’s assault on the Golden Temple in Amritsar. It is Sikhism’s holiest shrine, however on the time it was additionally the place main separatists had taken residence.

Hundreds of Sikhs had been killed within the Golden Temple operation; amongst them separatists but in addition giant numbers of pilgrims packed into the advanced on what was a Sikh holy day.

It was a pivotal second. In revenge 4 months later, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, precipitating widespread anti-Sikh riots throughout India wherein hundreds died.

To some extent, these occasions nonetheless have a profound impression on Sikh consciousness.

Lt Gen Brar survived the London knife assault in 2014 and his attackers, together with a British Sikh who misplaced his father and brother within the Indian military operation on the Golden Temple, had been imprisoned.

But, in addition to the imprisonment of Scottish Sikh Jagtar Johal, many British Sikhs cite different incidents from latest years as proof that theirs is a group underneath strain due to calls for being made by Delhi.

In 2018, there have been raids carried out on the properties of 5 Sikh activists in London and the Midlands.

No expenses had been ever introduced, however Sikh teams right here have stated the truth that particulars of the raids appeared within the Indian media that had not been made public by the British police means that Delhi had a hand within the operation.

Just this yr, British Sikhs throughout the political spectrum shared their confusion and concern in regards to the findings of a latest evaluate into Britain’s religion panorama by the UK authorities’s Faith Engagement Advisor, Colin Bloom.

After years of analysis, Mr Bloom devoted extra of his closing report back to Sikh “extremist and subversive activities” than it did to Muslim, far proper and Hindu extremism mixed.

Many Sikh leaders stated publicly that they felt the report’s findings had been a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, that has lengthy been vocal in regards to the truth it needs the governments of nations with giant Sikh populations – notably Canada, Australia and the UK – to do extra to counter Sikh activism.

Last month, the UK Home Office introduced an additional £95,000 to sort out the problem of “pro-Khalistani extremism”.

Calls for Khalistan separatism might have diminished over latest a long time in India, however the problem continues to trigger tensions and divisions amongst British Sikhs, with distinguished voices locally who don’t help the creation of a Sikh homeland generally receiving on-line intimidation.

But it seems these usually polarised sections of the group are coming collectively of their concern about misrepresentation.

“The Sikh community has integrated into British society and is known for its educational attainment and its seva (selfless service),” says Jagbir Jhutti Johal OBE, professor of Sikh Studies on the University of Birmingham. Though she doesn’t talk about it, Professor Johal is a kind of who has beforehand confronted the ire of pro-Khalistanis. But of late, she has been deeply troubled by strain she feels is being placed on the entire group.

“This recent scrutiny as a result of the Indian and UK Government’s focus on ‘extremism’ is unfairly creating a negative impression of the community. That’s causing many Sikhs to question the intentions of both governments,” she says.

Professor Johal warns that every one the main target and discuss lately of tackling Sikh extremism right here is probably unhelpful and counterproductive.

The UK’s ways and the information from Canada shall be elevating considerations for youthful Sikhs, she says. They might not have been earlier than however they’ll now research the idea of Khalistan, the alleged human rights abuses towards Sikhs and the restrictions on freedom of expression.