Condemning the negative portrayal of Punjabi diaspora as "Khalistani separatists or anti-India" for their support to the protesting farmers against the controversial farm bills, around 25 eminent Punjabi diaspora members wrote to the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, saying that “swift action” should be taken “to stop polarization” in Britain.

“We all are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the negative role of some sections of the Indian media and Indian Government ... Their sole objective has been to portray incorrect picture and damage the image of the entire hard-working Punjabi diaspora in the UK by labeling us all as Khalistani separatists or anti-India,” the letter addressed to Gaitri Issar Kumar,  Indian High Commissioner to the UK, said.  

“True democracy is all about the freedom to raise valid issues and the right to express opposition to government decisions... We  strongly support farmer’s and laborer’s democratic right to protest peacefully in India and the Punjabi and Indian diaspora’s right to protest peacefully here in the UK  to support our ‘ann datta’ (bread earners)" the letter said.

Making it clear that they don’t have any “formal affiliation to any political party or the farmers union in India,” they said car protest rallies were held in support of the farmers in various cities in the UK, but there was no separatist agenda involved.

The letter was written in the name of "Descendants of Farmers & Soldiers not Terrorists" and signed by, among others, former city mayors in UK, businessmen and donors to the Conservative Party, including main signatories, Tejinder Singh Sekhon and Charan K Singh Sekhon.    

The protest car rallies attracted many people, including the youth and the elderly from all communities in various cities. But it had “nothing to do with separatists' agenda.” However, they said that all were “labeled as Khalistani supporting people.. this is not acceptable."

“If extremists supporting groups or individuals joined the protests, it doesn’t mean the whole protest was focused on separatist’s agenda. We strongly condemn any groups linked to the Khalistani agenda or any political parties who are trying to use farmers' protests for their own agendas.

“We would like to appeal to Punjabi diaspora to be vigilant and should not allow any of these elements to propagate their own agendas.  However, this should not undermine the fact that the ordinary families did take part in  UK wide peaceful protests in huge numbers to show their support and solidarity for the farmers. This does not make all of them anti-India.  

“We would like to register our strongest condemnation and request the High Commission to take swift action to stop any further polarisation here in the UK. We must inform you, this approach of labeling everyone separatists may cause serious damage to Indian High Commission’s relationship with the Punjabi diaspora. We feel this may cause irreversible damage and deep divisions.”

The members also said that the Indian diaspora, especially the Punjabi diaspora has “always played a constructive role to strengthen the bridge of unity and peace for all. We feel it is our duty to highlight the core facts that may help to address the concerns we have raised in this letter.  

“We firmly support stronger UK-India relations and always make positive contributions in whatever capacity we can to support the progression and the prosperity of citizens of both nations. For the past decades, we have been supporting positive initiatives by the Indian High Commission as well as promoting community cohesion.

“The Indian government is stating that these farm bills are for the benefit of farmers but the farming communities have clearly rejected these bills. We would like to request the Indian Government to take their demands into full consideration and resolve their grievances,” they said in the letter and also requested that their letter be forwarded to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  

They also strongly condemned the actions by the Haryana administration for using police force, tear gas, and water cannons on the farmer and labourer protesters, who wanted to simply reach Delhi for a peaceful protest against the farm bills.

“These disturbing images have sent shockwaves around the world and we are deeply hurt and angered by these actions,” they said in the statement. 

They cited the example of Indian Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who had acknowledged and thanked the farmers for maintaining peace.

They said that apart from a few isolated incidents, the same peaceful approach was followed in the UK when a record number of people attended the protest car rallies on December 6 in many cities of Britain.