Latest news with #Juss
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
British Sikh MPs call for independent probe into UK role in Op Bluestar
British Sikh members of parliament Warinder Juss and Jas Athwal on Thursday reiterated their demand in the UK Parliament for an independent investigation into the involvement of the then Margaret Thatcher-led Conservative government in India's Operation Bluestar in June 1984. Juss, who represents the governing Labour Party in Wolverhampton West in northern England, and Athwal, who is the Labour MP for Ilford South in the east of the country, raised the matter during the 'Business of the House' session with the Leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell. They highlighted the 41st anniversary of the operation at Golden Temple and pointed to Powell's assurance to their fellow Sikh Labour MP, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, earlier this year of the 'need to get to the bottom of what happened'. 'Documents revealed in 2014 showed that the Thatcher government had helped their Indian counterpart by providing advice for Operation Bluestar,' said Juss. 'Since 2014, there have been many calls to establish the extent of the British government's involvement, and many assurances have been given. Will the Leader of the House give a statement to the House announcing an independent, judge-led public inquiry to, in her own words, get to the bottom of what happened,' he asked. Powell responded by acknowledging the concerns of members of the country's Sikh community but said she did not have an update since the last time the matter was raised in Parliament in early January. 'When I was asked about this issue previously, I did follow up, and I am sorry to say that I am still waiting,' she said. Athwal intervened later during the session to highlight that this week coincides with the anniversary of Operation Bluestar. He said: 'Some 41 years later, questions about British involvement remain unanswered. Labour promised in its 2017 and 2019 manifestos to hold an inquiry, and the Prime Minister [Keir Starmer] and the Deputy Prime Minister [Angela Rayner] pledged to do so before the last election. 'Will the Leader of the House allow time for an update from the Foreign Secretary on the progress of implementing that inquiry and ensure that promises made in opposition are fulfilled in government?' Powell reiterated that she understood how important it was for the British Sikh community to see 'progress on this issue'. 'That is the second time that it has been raised with me this morning. I will ensure that the Foreign Secretary [David Lammy] is aware of the concerns being raised again on the Floor of the House and that the update I previously asked for is made available to Members and this House,' she said. The first demand for an independent inquiry arose a few years ago when it emerged that British military advice was given to Indian forces prior to Operation Bluestar. The then British Prime Minister, David Cameron, had ordered an internal review into this discovery, which led to a statement in Parliament declaring that Britain's role had been purely 'advisory' and the Special Air Service (SAS) advice had 'limited impact' on Operation Bluestar in June 1984.
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Equality Act must outlaw caste discrimination
The Equality Act should be amended to take caste discrimination into account, and a change to law floated 12 years ago finally implemented, a Wolverhampton MP has caste system, developed in India, divides people into separate groups based on birth, marriage and Juss, Labour MP for Wolverhampton West, said amendments suggested in 2013 would have meant discrimination based on a person's caste was regarded in law the same as racial discrimination. However the changes were never Juss has called for a debate in Parliament on introducing the measure. In 2013, the then coalition Business Secretary Vince Cable stated caste discrimination was to be outlawed in the had argued legislation was needed because thousands of people suffered abuse and prejudice because they were considered low the same year, after pressure in Parliament, the government initially offered legal protection to 400,000 Dalits - so-called "untouchables" - who lived in the UK and faced discrimination in Hindu and Sikh communities. Five years later, in response to consultation, the then government decided against further legislation, instead relying on developments in case law - and faced criticism for the delays. Juss said in the Commons on Thursday: "Does the leader of the House agree that caste discrimination is as bad as discrimination based on colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, and will she therefore please agree to a debate in this house for the implementation of section 9(5) of the Equality Act so that caste discrimination can be specified to be a form of race discrimination."Speaking in the Commons during Business Questions on Thursday, Commons leader Lucy Powell said: "I absolutely appreciate that caste discrimination can be incredibly damaging and pernicious."We take our obligations under the Equality Act very seriously indeed and I will ensure that [Juss] gets an update on where that's up to." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
