LONDON — Mounting pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer has intensified following a blistering open letter from the Sikh Federation UK to Labour MPs. The correspondence demands an “urgent need, in the national interest, for a realistic timetable to elect a new Labour leader,” citing the government’s failure to honor pre-election promises made to the Sikh community.

After more than 18 months in power, the Labour leadership is facing severe backlash from a demographic representing over one million votes. The Federation’s letter places an intense spotlight on three core areas of grievance: the long-delayed public inquiry into UK involvement in the 1984 Harmandir Sahib attack, the ongoing detention of British national Jagtar Singh Johal in India, and the rising threat of India’s transnational repression on British soil.

The Demand for a 1984 Public Inquiry

For over a decade, the Labour Party repeatedly promised to uncover the truth regarding Margaret Thatcher’s administration’s actions against the Sikh community. The Federation notes that over 200 MPs, including more than 100 Labour MPs, have backed a judge-led public inquiry in writing.

However, since taking office, progress has stalled. The letter points to “the reluctance of civil servants in FCDO” as a major roadblock. The Federation expressed hope that a change in leadership would finally bring accountability, stating, “We believe a new Prime Minister will understand the importance to Sikhs across the globe to be provided the truth and will have the courage to honour the promise.”

Missed Opportunities for Jagtar Singh Johal

The case of Scottish Sikh Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been arbitrarily detained in India since 2017, remains a high-priority diplomatic failure in the eyes of the Sikh community. The letter explicitly calls out Starmer for missing “several opportunities” in 2025 to secure Johal’s return, notably after Johal was acquitted of terror charges by a district court in Punjab in March 2025.

Despite a recent statement from ten UN human rights experts calling for the Indian government to drop the remaining charges and release Johal immediately, the UK government’s response has been viewed as deeply insufficient. The Federation argues that a “new Prime Minister will therefore have the mandate to push for Jagtar’s immediate release.”

Transnational Repression and the Death of Avtar Singh Khanda

The Federation’s letter sounds the alarm on increasing transnational repression by the Indian government targeting Sikh activists living in the UK. The organization is demanding greater transparency and urging the UK Government to “publicly call this out for it to be a deterrent.”

Specifically, the letter highlights the mysterious death of Sikh activist Avtar Singh Khanda in June 2023. Calling the handli the case a “cover up,” the Federation insists that “there needs to be an inquest and an inquiry into his death” to quell major concerns circulating within the community.

Surging Anti-Sikh Hate Crimes

Beyond international diplomacy, the letter addresses critical domestic failures, particularly concerning hate crimes. Despite Starmer’s opposition-era promises to tackle Anti-Sikh hate on par with Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim hate, the Federation claims Labour has been “too slow to recognise, acknowledge and tackle” the issue.

The letter references high-profile racist attacks in the West Midlands over the past year, including two racially aggravated rapes of young Sikh women. The Federation criticizes the classification of these incidents merely as “racially aggravated” rather than specific Anti-Sikh hate crimes. By utilizing anonymized Census data, the Federation estimates that the actual number of Anti-Sikh hate crimes may be “twenty times higher than currently reported.”

Electoral Fallout and the Call for Andy Burnham

The political consequences of these broken promises are already materializing. The Federation’s analysis of recent local elections suggests that while some areas like Redbridge and Wolverhampton saw reluctant Sikh backing for Labour, strongholds such as Sandwell, Slough, Hounslow, Coventry, and Walsall witnessed large numbers of Sikhs defecting to other parties or abstaining entirely.

To address this fracturing coalition, the Federation has requested a “complete overhaul of Government engagement,” criticizing civil servants for blocking ministerial access to leading Sikh organizations.

Ultimately, the letter suggests that only a change at the top can restore “public trust in politics,” which it notes is “at an all-time low.” The Federation explicitly pointed to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as a potential successor, criticizing the National Executive Committee (NEC) for blocking him from standing as an MP. The letter argues Burnham “is popular with the general public as well as Labour members and would be the clear favourite to become the Labour leader,” urging a realistic timetable to allow members to decide who can best “win back those who voted in protest.”