London: The newly formed UK Gurdwara Alliance, a representative body of various Sikh Gurdwaras in UK, was officially launched in the UK Parliament on 1 July 2025 during an event marking the 20th anniversary of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Sikhs.
The launch event brought together Ministers, MPs, Peers, and Sikh leaders, with a call for the UK Government to rethink how it engages with the Sikh community, urging more direct and meaningful dialogue with Gurdwaras — described as the spiritual and community hubs of Sikh life in Britain.
Government Engagement Must Change
Bhai Gurpreet Singh Anand, President of the Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha) London — the UK’s first ever Gurdwara — addressed the gathering, stating: “The UK Government must change the way they engage with the Sikh community. The UK Gurdwara Alliance provides an ideal platform for government to engage on faith-related matters and issues directly impacting on Gurdwaras and their Sangat (Sikh congregation).”
The UK Gurdwara Alliance comprises 25 key Gurdwaras across 12 regions, including the iconic Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick, the largest in the UK, and Central Gurdwara Glasgow, the largest in Scotland.
Addressing the Disconnect
Bhai Kuldeep Singh, former President of Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick, highlighted the gap between local and central government engagement: “Gurdwaras up and down the country at the local level are recognised by MPs, councillors, local authorities, the police, schools, health bodies and other local decision-making bodies as the key Sikh institutions… The UK Gurdwara Alliance has been established at the national level to address a disconnect that exists between central government and Gurdwaras.”
The Alliance also aims to support and complement long-established Sikh community organisations with a UK wide presence and grassroots credibility.
Charity Commission Under Scrutiny
One of the Alliance’s first calls to action was directed at the Charity Commission, which it accused of being outdated in its dealings with Sikh religious institutions.
Bhai Kuldeep Singh stated: “The Charity Commission’s current approach to Gurdwaras is outdated and out of step with the growing challenges these institutions face. It continues to rely on advice from individuals who lack the necessary understanding and experience of how Gurdwaras operate.”
Global Sikh Links to be Strengthened
The Alliance also expressed its intention to work with global Sikh organisations such as the Akal Takht, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) in Amritsar, and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC).
Bhai Mohinder Singh of the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, also present at the event, endorsed the Alliance’s formation and underlined the role of Gurdwaras in leading community action: “Gurdwaras are on the frontline — the formation of the UK Gurdwara Alliance recognises this and strengthens their voice.”
Political Interference Warning
The Alliance also issued a warning to the UK Government and officials about the risk of political interference by engaging with individuals under the influence of the Indian government — a growing concern within segments of the Sikh diaspora.
Support from British and International Leaders
The event was addressed by Lord Wajid Khan, the UK’s Faith Minister, who acknowledged the issues raised and affirmed his commitment to better engagement:
“I have listened to the concerns raised by the UK Gurdwara Alliance about government engagement,” he said, noting the importance of the Alliance’s role.
A special guest at the event was Ramesh Singh Arora, Minister for Minority Affairs in the Government of Punjab and President of the PSGPC, who travelled from Pakistan to attend the launch:
“The UK Gurdwara Alliance is an excellent initiative by Gurdwaras. Having a collective voice for over 200 UK Gurdwaras is extremely powerful. This will be helpful for not only UK Government engagement, but will improve links between Gurdwara bodies across the globe.”
