The Indian Workers’ Association GB appeals to all secular democratic organisations, religious institutions, political parties and individuals to unite and unequivocally condemn the actions of extremist Khalistani elements that are once again rearing their ugly heads in Europe and North America.

On Saturday 18th August, an event was organised by the IWA in Coventry at the Ramgharia Community Centre to celebrate India’s Independence Day. The celebration was attacked by masked thugs, under the pretext of preventing the celebration.These thugs also complained of having a difference with the committee for running the community centre and allowing bookings for social events where alcohol and meat can be served. These self appointed, unrepresentative individuals, 50 plus in number, then added to their demands by pulling down the banner of the IWA and physically man handling the 10 or so organisers including 3 women and 3 senior citizens present and elected municipal representatives from both the Labour and Conservative parties.

The attack continued unabated for nearly two hours. The role of the police was similar to the apathy shown during the disturbances in London last year. The three officers that did eventually arrive almost an hour later simply stood in the doorway while the masked thugs continued to provoke, intimidate, bully and manhandle people legitimately organised inside. The inability of the Police to act, even with subsequent reinforcement is puzzling and questionable. The fact that the organisers of a peaceful celebration were forced to vacate the premises and abandon the event while masked thugs were protected and allowed to occupy the centre surely is unjust and cannot be acceptable in any civil society.

When the hundreds of people, who would have attended the celebration, were denied entry to the venue gathered outside, they expressed their outrage at this unprovoked attack. In a direct response to the ongoing provocative action for incitement by the extremist Khalistani thugs, to which the police remained oblivious, pro-Indian slogans against separatism were raised by the patriotic members of the IWA. The police reacted by protecting the thugs and removing the organisers and participants of the celebration from the area.Even when the few remaining members of the IWA were forced across the road from the venue, the police again reacted in an odd manner and forced the organisers, including Councillors, ex Lord Mayor of Coventry and the Cllr. Chair of Police Committee, to leave the area so that the masked thugs can vacate the venue and go home.

The unprovoked attack preventing a peaceful celebration by patriotic Indian workers and their families is disturbing and reprehensible. It is the highest insult to the memories of all the martyrs of India’s freedom struggle, the centenary celebrations of the Ghadar Party, the martyrs, Kartar Singh Sarbha, Madan Lal Dhingra, Udham Singh, Shaheed- e- azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, the thousands of unnamed freedom fighters and the millions who lost their lives from India and Pakistan during the 1947 partition. This denial of an Independence Day celebration is a denial of freedom of speech by terrorists in a city with an otherwise proud record against fascism and indeed a city that is the birth place of the IWA.

The celebration was to hear a message from the President of India conveyed through the Consulate General and to hear in person from Prof. Jagmohan Singh, a prominent writer and direct descendant of Shaheed-e-azam Bhagat Singh. The guests were to gather to assess the achievements and shortcomings of the 65 years of India’s Independence.  They would also have celebrated Coventry’s marvellous contribution to the Olympics and the historic role of Lady Godiva. But this meant nothing to these extremists.

Communities across Britain need to become aware and unite to oppose this menace of anti social element that will otherwise do untold damage to the credibility, integrity and reputation of hard working, law abiding, Indian citizens living in Britain. We shall continue to work together with people from all across the political spectrum to put a stop to this anarchy and fascist behaviour.

The IWA (GB) has been a community based representative body of Indian Workers in Britain since 1938. We are proud of our association with India and its people as well as our home here in Britain. We campaign for racial and social equality and against all forms of discrimination and champion the rights of the working people.

This denial of an Independence Day celebration is a denial of freedom of speech by terrorists in a city with an otherwise proud record against fascism and indeed a city that is the birth place of the IWA.The IWA called for the widest unity of all secular democratic organisations, religious institutions, political parties and individuals to unite and unequivocally condemn the actions of extremist Khalistani elements that are once again rearing their ugly heads in Europe and North America.The IWA has also called for a review of the police tactics during and following this attack by thugs reminiscent of their mishandling of the inner city disturbances last year.

– For IWA (GB) Harsev Bains, with Dyal Bagri, Avtar Jouhl, Balwant Herian, Ram Lakha, Raj Malhotra, Shira Johal and other representatives of Indian Community.