A SLOUGH place of worship has criticised the government for failing to protect UK Sikhs - and refusing to investigate the 'suspicious' death of an activist.

Avtar Singh Khanda, from Birmingham, died suddenly in June after a short illness and three days before Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in Vancovuer. 

National security authorities in Canada said they obtained “credible” intelligence suggesting “agents of the government of India” were behind the murder of the prominent Sikh leader.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau disclosed the intelligence on Monday and said he raised it with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in New Delhi earlier this month. 

But since the disclosure, Slough Sikhs say they feel let down over the UK government's 'deafening silence' on the issue. 

Sri Guru Singh Sabha Slough Gurdwara, on Sheehy Way, is the main site of worship for the majority of the Sikh population in the area. 

In a statement to the Slough Observer, a spokesman said the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak needs to put the safety of citizens ahead of a trade deal with India. 

The spokesman also claimed that locally they had faced "increased pressure" by the government's Charity Commission to remove banners expressing support for Khalistan - a movement that seeks to create a homeland for Sikhs in Punjab. 

A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “As regulator, part of our role is to ensure that charities only undertake activities in line with their charitable purposes, and that trustees comply with their legal duties and responsibilities. We have an ongoing compliance case into Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Slough which includes assessing concerns about some of its activities.”

A spokesman for Sri Guru Singh Sabha Slough Gurdwara said: "We are gravely concerned by the UK government's deafening silence ever since Canada's revelations, especially given the suspicious and sudden death of British citizen Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda, just three days before the assassination of Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

"Unlike Canada, the UK authorities have repeatedly refused to investigate the death of Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda, despite countless requests from family members and Sikh organisations."

They continued: "We urge Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to put his trade deal behind, and prioritise the safety of British citizens. The targeting of Sikhs around the world is largely based around prominent community support for Khalistan which includes exposing India's human rights abuses against Sikhs.

"Sri Guru Singh Sabha Slough Gurdwara has also been subjected to vilification and pressure from the Charity Commission, a UK body who have made countless requests in the last 3/4 years for us to remove the Khalistan banners in our main Darbar."

The full statement from  Sri Guru Singh Sabha Slough Gurdwara

"In a ground-breaking moment in Sikh history, Canadian authorities - in no uncertain terms - accused the Indian government of involvement in the killing of Canadian Sikh leader Shaheed (Martyr) Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023 in Canada.

"In a speech to Parliament, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: 'Over the past number of weeks, Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.'

"We hope Canada's acknowledgment of what countless Sikh organisations and Gurdwara already knew regarding Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar leads to stronger investigations into other types of Indian interference around the world.

"But we are gravely concerned by the UK government's deafening silence ever since Canada's revelations, especially given the suspicious and sudden death of British citizen Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda, just three days before the assassination of Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Unlike Canada, the UK authorities have repeatedly refused to investigate the death of Bhai Avtar Singh Khanda, despite countless requests from family members and Sikh organisations.

"Before going public, Prime Minister Trudeau personally approached the US, Australia and the UK about his findings. The US and Australia have shown a stand by supporting Canada's investigation. Why hasn't the UK? We urge Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to put his trade deal behind, and prioritise the safety of British citizens. The targeting of Sikhs around the world is largely based around prominent community support for Khalistan (free Sikh homeland movement) which includes exposing India's human rights abuses against Sikhs.

"Sri Guru Singh Sabha Slough Gurdwara has also been subjected to vilification and pressure from the Charity Commission, a UK body who have made countless requests in the last 3/4 years for us to remove the Khalistan banners in our main Darbar.

"Over the last six months, they have stepped up this pressure with ultimatums. We have made it clear that they fall in line with our Sikh belief and we will not tolerate any such external pressures from government agencies. More information on this matter will be shared with the Sangat in due course as this is currently an ongoing matter.

"Now more than ever, it’s important for the Sangat to unite for the Chardikala (high spirits) of the Sikh Panth (community). An Ardaas for the Chardikala of the Sikh Panth - following this week's revelations - will be held at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Slough Gurdwara at 9.30am this Sunday (24/09/23)."