British PM Starmer marks Vaisakhi at Downing Street, Sikh groups renew Jallianwala Bagh apology call

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer marked Vaisakhi with a call for unity and action against anti-Sikh hatred at a reception hosted at 10 Downing Street , even as Sikh organisations raised concerns over a controversial government policy and historical grievances.

Addressing British Sikhs, parliamentarians and community leaders, Keir Starmer said Sikh history is inseparable from Britain’s history and warned that global tensions are often exploited to sow division. He urged unity against prejudice, noting rising anti-Sikh hate and stressing the need to confront discrimination. He described Vaisakhi as both a celebration and a reminder to stand against injustice.

The event also highlighted Sikh heritage. Starmer pointed to an exhibition at Kensington Palace on Princess Sophia Duleep Singh , daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh , a prominent campaigner in Britain’s women’s suffrage movement. Children from the west London gurdwara Khalsa Jatha Shepherd’s Bush performed kirtan during the celebrations.

Cabinet Office minister and Labour MP Satvir Kaur said Sikh values closely align with Labour’s focus on community and service, highlighting the principle of sewa or selfless service. She also noted the record number of Sikh-heritage MPs in the House of Commons as a sign of growing representation.

Meanwhile, the Network of Sikh Organisations has launched a crowdfunding campaign to legally challenge the government’s new anti-Muslim hostility definition , introduced alongside a broader social cohesion strategy by Housing Secretary Steve Reed .

The non-statutory definition describes anti-Muslim hostility as acts such as violence, harassment, intimidation or discriminatory practices directed at Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim, and is intended to help authorities identify and address hate crimes more consistently.

Government data shows almost 4,500 hate crimes targeting Muslims were recorded in England and Wales in the year ending March 2025, prompting calls for clearer guidance to tackle prejudice.

However, some Sikh and Hindu groups argue the policy could affect freedom of religion and speech , warning that it may function similarly to non-crime hate incident reporting and discourage open discussion of religious beliefs. They are preparing a judicial review, claiming the move could interfere with rights under the European Convention on Human Rights .

Separately, Sikh organisations have renewed calls for the British government to formally apologise for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. Community leaders say previous British statements expressed regret but fell short of a full apology, urging Starmer to honour earlier commitments linked to the Labour Party .