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UK Sikh body says no to help from Indian outfits for general elections Yudhvir Rana,TNN Mar 8, 2015, 03.22AM IST AMRITSAR: Indian Sikh organizations' announcement to motivate and extend support to community members to participate in the UK general elections has not impressed the Sikh Federation, UK. The UK Sikh body - which has for the first time launched a Sikh manifesto targeting 50 key seats to 'shape elections' - has advised Indian Sikh bodies to stay out of Britain's polls and set their house in order first. Sikh Federation, UK general secretary and former mayor of Gravesham Narinderjit Singh on Saturday said: "They (Indian Sikh bodies) are simply opportunists and don't have a clue about the UK elections. You need to plan years in advance to get Sikh candidates selected by parties and then into winnable constituencies." A few days ago, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and All India Sikh Students Federation (Peermohammad) had announced to send their delegations to the UK to extend support and motivate Sikh leaders to increase their participation in politics and be a stronger voice in the House of Commons to resolve issues faced by community especially of their identity. Narinderjit said: "This is not Indian style elections. Sikhs leaders from India should read the Sikh Manifesto, learn something and not waste time and money of the Delhi Sangat by sending delegations to the UK." Principal adviser to Sikh Federation Dabinderjit Singh said: "DSGMC and AISSF should sort out things in India and keep out of the UK polls." He said Sikhs in the UK had shown that they were much more capable than their counterparts in India in securing their rights. He questioned: "Why do they not launch a massive campaign to address the Article 25 of the Indian Constitution?" Chair of the Sikh Federation, UK Amrik Singh said: "Indian Sikh leaders just want to get on to the Sikh manifesto bandwagon on the eve of the British elections as we are getting widespread support and publicity." When contacted, DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK said: "We are not going to interfere in their local electoral system, but we will still motivate the Sikh and Punjabi leadership in UK to make a stronger voice in the legislature." Source - http://m.timesofindia.com/nri/community/UK-Sikh-body-says-no-to-help-from-Indian-outfits-for-general-elections/articleshow/46489426.cms