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Ken Livingstone has appointed a former member of a banned terrorist organisation to the board of Transport for London.
Until 2001, Dabinderjit Singh, a civil servant, was a member of the International Sikh Youth Federation, a UK-based group banned under British antiterror laws.
The then Home Office minister, Lord Bassam, said British-based ISYF members were a "threat to national security" and the group had carried out " assassinations, bombings and kidnappings" overseas.
The ISYF plotted a number of unsuccessful attacks in the UK and one of its members was convicted of the 1985 Air India bombing off Ireland, the deadliest single aircraft terror attack in history.
After it was banned the ISYF dissolved, creating a successor body, the Sikh Federation UK, whose executive committee and senior members - including Mr Singh - are largely the same as the ISYF's, and whose objectives are the same. Sikh Federation UK has received extensive support from Mr Livingstone.
The Sikh Federation UK's official 2008 calendar glorifies terrorist "martyrs" - including the assassins of Indira Gandhi and the mastermind of the1985 Air India bombing. Last June, Mr Singh spoke at a Sikh Federation UK rally - sanctioned by Mr Livingstone - in Trafalgar Square at which another speaker praised terrorism and suicide bombing and at which the banners of another banned Sikh terrorist group, Babbar Khalsa, were on open display. Mr
Livingstone has worked closely with the Sikh Federation UK, meeting its leadership - including Mr Singh - as recently as six weeks ago.
According to a 29 February City Hall press release, they presented him with a shield in honour of "the work he has done in support of the Sikh community".
The press release described Mr Singh as a member of the Sikh Federation. He described himself to the Standard as an "adviser" to the federation's executive.
The Mayor also allowed the free use of City Hall and the London Assembly chamber for at least two events organised by the Sikh Federation UK - the "World Sikh Summit," on 17 September last year, and a conference on "making Sikhs visible to decision-makers" on 1 February 2006. Mr Singh spoke at both events.
Mr Singh has had at least one private one-on-one meeting with the Mayor - in September 2006 - and was appointed by him to the TfL board in the same month. He is paid at least £22,000 a year for this appointment.
Mr Singh told the Standard today: "I was a sympathiser of the ISYF but the only time I came into the limelight with the ISYF was in 2000.
"The organisation was put up for proscription about two months later. When an organisation [the ISYF] is proscribed, it's the organisation, not the individuals, that are banned."
He said he was "not disputing" that there were links between the ISYF and the Sikh Federation but said the Sikh Federation was a "reputable organisation".
He described the Home Office claims of "assassinations, bombings and kidnappings" by the ISYF as a "generic phrase" and said the ban was "illogical".
The Sikh Federation UK - not to be confused with the moderate British Sikh Federation - claims to be a peaceful organisation.
However, the clearest indication of its true sympathies is its official 2008 calendar. Headed "Never forget the sacrifices made by Sikhs in the last 30 years for freedom and justice," it is plastered with pictures of Sikh terrorists and " martyrs", including Talwinder Singh, the mastermind of the Air India bombing, and Beant Singh, the assassin of Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Asked whether it was acceptable to honour the assassin of a prime minister, Dabinderjit Singh said: "We are highlighting people who are martyrs ... There is another side to the story [of the assassination]. Indira Gandhi was responsible for killing many thousands."
The three most senior officers of the Sikh Federation UK are the former leaders of the ISYF. The federation's chair, Amrik Singh Gill, was the ISYF's president. Its vice-president, Kuldeep Singh Chaheru, and its general secretary, Narinderjit Singh, were vice-presidents of the ISYF. Amrik Singh Gill and Narinderjit Singh also met Mr Livingstone this February.
Atma Singh, the Mayor's former Asian affairs adviser - himself a Sikh - told the Standard he had warned the Mayor about the Sikh Federation UK.
"In London, the Sikh Federation UK has very little support," he said. "Their power base is limited to half a dozen temples in the Midlands. But City Hall wanted to build them up and give them the same credibility as they did with the [fundamentalist-Muslim Association of Britain." The ISYF was founded to campaign for an independent Sikh state in India, known as Khalistan, and avenge the 1984 Golden Temple massacre of Sikh militants by the Indian government.
The Home Office claims British members channelled money and arms to the Indian branch of the organisation.
The ISYF was involved in the bombing of Air India flight 182 over the Atlantic. Three hundred and twenty nine people, including 114 children, were killed by a bomb planted on the plane en route from Montreal to London.
The bombing was mainly the work of the Babbar Khalsa. However, the only man to be convicted over it, British-Canadian Inderjit Singh Reyat, from Birmingham, was a member of the ISYF.
ISYF members in India were responsible for indiscriminate killings of civilians, including women and children, during the Sikh insurgency in the Punjab from the early Eighties to 1993.
The ISYF also plotted a number of murders in Britain, mainly of visiting Indian politicians. The plots were intercepted by British security forces and foiled.
The ISYF is also suspected of involvement in the still-unsolved murder of a moderate, anti-ISYF Sikh newspaper editor in Southall.
There is no suggestion that Dabinderjit Singh has been personally involved in facilitating or carrying out an act of terrorism, or in ISYF activity since the group was banned.
However, on 3 June last year he spoke at a rally in Trafalgar Square, co-organised by the Sikh Federation UK, at which the crossed-Kalashnikov banner of the Babbar Khalsa group was on display.
At the rally, another speaker, Avtar Sanghera, praised a Babbar Khalsa leader, Jagtar Singh Hawara, who is on death row in India for taking part in a suicide attack on the chief minister of the Punjab.
"We are proud of this brother of ours," Mr Sanghera said. "With God's blessings, more men like Hawara will be born."
Mr Sanghera also said the Babbar Khalsa had "set its cross-hairs" on three Sikh "apostates" who would be "wiped off the face of the Punjab".
Glorifying terrorism and supporting a banned terrorist organisation are criminal offences under the terror laws.
Adrian Hunt, an expert in counterterrorism law at the University of Birmingham, said the footage of the rally - shown on YouTube - gave "sufficient material for the matter to be inquired into very seriously by the authorities".
Dabinderjit Singh told the Standard: "Any community, you have individuals who get up and say things and you think, 'What the hell are you doing'. There was a group of individuals [at the rally] who decided they were going to push the law to its limits. I have no time for those people - they are totally missing the point."
He said that Mr Livingstone "allowed us to use Trafalgar Square". Mr Singh also said that the Mayor had been invited to address the rally but had refused, saying he "rarely spoke on a Sunday".
Asked for his views on the armed struggle, Mr Singh said: "If someone has had their mother and father killed and they decide to take up arms because they feel there is no justice for them, it's very difficult to condemn them, because they're trying to defend themselves."
Dabinderjit Singh is described by Sikh analysts as the "respectable face" of Sikh separatist militancy. He is a senior civil servant with the National Audit Office and has been awarded the OBE.
Reports of the ceremony describe him as an ISYF member and state that he wore the ISYF insignia to the investiture. The ISYF was legal at that point and enjoyed close relations with some British politicians, who protested against the Government ban.
Mr Singh, who still has a place on the TfL board, would have attended board meetings and decided upon new fare rises, financing and budgets, proposed lines extensions, strategic planning and health and safety issues.
Mr Livingstone declined to comment.
Reader views (36)
Andrew Gillighan had done another fantastic job for his in depth analysis, so has renowned journalist Kim Bolan, unfortunately the latter has had numerous death threats for exposing Sikh terrorism that began well before 1984 - too many media organisations like the Times, CBC Canada, BBC, have been called 'racist' and the sad fact is that they and many others including Sikhs, muslims and Hindus have been bullied, intimated into keeping their mouths shut. Dabinderjit Singh should be exposed for what he is, a terrorist in disguise and Livingstone should hang his head in shame
- Asif Khan, Toronto
Dear Baljit,
You are claiming that respected members of the Sikh community have, "bullied, threatened, and intimidated those who do not share their agenda of separatism". Before stating such, known in the general Sikh circles to be completely untrue, can you back your claims of where and when this has happened, and who has been bullied, threatened, or intimidated because of not supporting a peaceful lobby for the right to self-determination?
Furthermore, this peaceful lobby for the right to self-determination is not the "agenda" of a single individual or organisation, it is a simple right backed by the majority of the entire Sikh nation worldwide.
- Nirvair Singh, UK
Whatever his motives Andrew Gilligan has done a great service to the Sikhs. He has spoken out where for decades concerned Sikhs have kept quiet as Dabinderjit and his associates have bullied, threatened, and intimidated those who do not share their agenda of separatism.
The Audit office must realise that he is misusing their resources in prompting his extreme views. When will they act?
Baljit
- Baljit, London
Jas Kaur raises a number of good points.
- Nirvair Singh, UK
I have a number of questions:
If Dabinderjit Singh was appointed to the Transport for London Board in September 2006, why has Andrew Gilligan waited 20 months before pointing this out?
When Dabinderjit Singh was appointed to the Transport for London Board was he a member/sympathiser/associate of a banned group?
If Dabinderjit Singh is a 'respected' senior civil servant who has presumably been security cleared, is there are issue of him serving on the Transport for London Board?
I think the article incorrectly states (in two places) Inderjit Singh Reyat was a member of the ISYF. For the last 22 years and in Canadian courts it has been stated he was a member of Babbar Khalsa. Has Andrew Gilligan found new information?
Atma Singh, a former President of the Indian Overseas Congress (Congress was responsible for the killing of around 20,000 Sikhs in over 130 towns/cities in India in the November 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms) appears to be one of the sources for this story. Was he not sacked by the GLA for incompetence, lost in his employment tribunal and was found to have put the lives of Londoners at risk following 7/7?
- Jas Kaur, London, UK
A Singh
Your post reeks of paranoia and victim hood complex. This article does not seek to 'character assassinate' all Sikhs. It specifically deals with the ideology of specific individuals and organisations who claim to speak on behalf of all Sikhs and do so with a political and sectarian agenda. But they do not speak sor Sikhs. There is not a single false word in this article and I commend it completely. I am Sikh and I am glad these people have been investigated. Get out of your paranoid persecution complex. Understand the difference between criticising individuals and ideology, and stop conflating the interests of this narrow group of people with the entire Sikh community. That's something that Islamists, Black activists defending Lee Jasper, and Hindutvadis complaining about Andrew Gilligans attack on the extremist Hindu Forum of Britain did. And its pathetic.
- Jagdeep Singh, Kentish Town, London
"One mans Terrorist, is another mans Freedom Fighter"
I don’t know if anyone here understands the meaning of "Sarbaht dah Phalla"? Basically it is a Gurmuki term (the language of the so called terrorists in question) and is recited twice a day by Sikhs the world over during their morning & evening prayers. It is a request for the Almighty to "Bless & take care of Everyone" not just Sikhs but Jews, Christians, Muslims, Black, White etc etc..
Throughout history, the Sikh people have continually contributed again and again to the societies they inhabit and have not caused anybody any undue or unnecessary harm in practising their faith. Please do not be fooled by the nonsense written in this article. The true purpose of this article is not to sway the "White Englishman" away from Ken Livingston in the elections, but to be a character assassination on the Sikh people. It is part of a new wave of negative media, designed to discredit and undermine our right to equality & sovereignty in a land far, far away from this little island.
Please continue on your path to a better life by Sharing, Caring & Loving. We are all brothers and sisters no matter what Class, Creed, Colour, Religion or Race.
GOD Bless.
- A Singh, London
Geoff, or whichever Sikh disguised as Geoff: you say that the Sikh Federation is a new concept and has nothing to do with IYSF. Why then did the Sikh Federation website contain a link that said it would campaign to lift the ban on IYSF? And why was this link active till two days ago and has now been made inactive? Also, Dabinderjit Singh has close connections with the Sikh Sangat. Their website shows a chilling side to the Sikh story in this country. In a discussion on this story in the Standard, the Sikh Sangat website openly says that terrorists like Jarnail Singh Bhindaranwale (who was responsible for arming militants who killed 5000 civilians in Panjab) are saints. The Sikh Sangat also claims that the killer of Indira Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister are martyrs. But most chilling is the fact that this group which glorifies terrorist acts openly declares on its website that the Sikh Sangat leaders are planning something major in secret (the word they have used is 'Gupt' or secretive). Will not our intelligence agencies wake up to this?
- Krish Jumnabhai, London
Referring to individuals or organisations as terrorists or terrorist related with no basis is a cheap shot. Just as Margaret Thatcher referred to Nelson Mandella as a terrorist. He is anything but a terrorist but a freedom fighter against oppression, but post 9/11 terrorist seems to be the convenient word that politicians and media use to discredit any person/organisation that do not fit in with their agenda.
- Paul, Milton Keynes
During the course of the last century Sikhs have been persecuted numerous times. In particular in 1911, 1978 twice in 1984 and according to Amnesty International, to this day.
Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world so I was surprised to learn that they are not recognised as a religion in India, but as a sect of Hinduism, is this not a form of oppression?
It is widely recognised that Indian politicians played a major role in the Anti-Sikhs riots in 1984. How can Sikhs have any faith in a Government that has yet to prosecute one person(whether politician or mob member)in the murder and rape of thousands of Sikhs over a three day period? Not forgetting this is when individual politicians have been named.
With this in mind is it not reasonable for Sikhs to want justice and to lobby to regain the land that was taken from them?
- Sharon, Milton Keynes
Dabindirjit Singh of the Sikh Federation had originally joined a Coalition Against Sheikh Qaradawi put together by the Board of Deputies of British Jews to protest against Ken Livingstone's public embracing of Sheikh Qaradawi who has supported the killing of Jews and homosexuals. A public enquiry had been launched at the GLA against Ken. However, what is telling is that following the formation of the coalition, Dabinderjit Singh had a meeting with GLA officials, and withdrew from this coalition. Immediately following this withdrawal, Dabenderjit Singh was appointed to the TfL Board. This sucks of a private deal - get out of an inconvenient coalition against Ken and earn £22000 per year for just a few meetings. Doesn't this amount to a tacit bribe?
- Krish Jumnabhai, Ilford, London
From what I gather, the Sikh Federation (UK) is a recognised political party in promoting the Sikh faith politically. There is nothing wrong with the Sikh Federation. ISYF was banned due to external pressure, due to its stands against the Government of India after the attack on the Golden Temple and 1984 massacre of Sikhs. Although no terrorist activity in the UK has been proved till date by the ISYF, it was indeed banned after the 9/11 attacks along with the Babbar Khalsa International organisation. I believe the Sikh Federation is a completely new concept to the ISYF, it is a registered political party, with professionals running and advising it. It also has the support of Sikh youths who play a major part in its operation as an effective human rights lobby group.
- Geoff, London
Ken is the best thing that ever happened to London. Perhaps I do not agree with all his policies, but it does not mean he is not one of the finest Mayors of all time. Regarding Mr. Singh, people need to do some research before believing rubbish articles written for the sole purpose to get a Mayor out of office!
- Geoff, London
In every community there are "bad apples". I'm not saying they are necessary bad people, but have been led astray as to what their faith teaches. The Sikh faith teaches peace, equality, honest living, contemplation on God, giving to Charity and much more. Militancy is only acceptable as a last resort when you are fighting for justice and honour of anothers faith or your own. It does not teach revenge - when did our Guru's ever fight for revenge? Answer - Never! The Sikh faith teaches if you are slapped on one side of the face ask that same person to slap the other side. What does this mean? - It means unless your faith is being harmed there is no need to revault. Our Guru's only went into battle with the Mughals to protect the forced conversion of Hindu's and Sikhs across India, it was never about power, land or money. And as for suicide attacks - all Sikhs know you are going to hell if you commit suicide, it is totally condemned.
This issue is absolutely minute compared to how it is being portrayed in the media, but needs to be addressed by the community and it's leaders.
I can only pray that these people calm down and realise what is right and wrong. Stop giving the faith a bad name.
- D Singh, London, UK
Harvinder Singh, with all due respect you are wrong. It is rare for Sikhs to be "picked on" because they are Sikhs. In general Sikhs are well liked. I ought to know because I married one and my brothers-in-law tell me of occasional problems but usually because they are mistaken for Muslims.
Having said that there are problems, the biggest loss of life on a passenger aircraft WAS down to Sikh separatists planting a bomb on board. It was a transatlantic Air India flight
- David, Crawley UK
This is the Livingstone underworld full of free loaders who Livingstone seems happy to throw our council tax at and the more extreme the better as far has he is concerned.
Lee Jasper and the bogus organisations are just the tip of a very large iceberg in the way Livingstone has thrown our hard earned money away.
The number of people Livingstone now employs at our expense to promote himself needs to be looked into along with every dubious organisation he is linked to. It is time the accounts were opened to public scrutiny.
- K Harrop, hertford uk
Sounds like Livingstone. 2-terms in office are enough for a any crook.
- Frederick, London
I hope people understand the reason's the Sikh youth federation was established. Our people (Sikh people) even today are forced out their homes, locked up in prisons, raped. Further to that, the Indian government has tried for years to dilute the Sikh history and turn us into Hindus. The Indian government doesn't even recognise Sikh's as a separate community in Punjab, we don't have a separate marriage act in our own state.
If you really want to know the history of the ISYK, learn about the genocide in 1984 in India and you will understand why organisations like this were created to protect us from these bigots (Indian government).
We all have the right to practice our own beliefs, it's a shame we can't enjoy the freedom we receive in London back in our homeland.
Don't be fooled we are not extremist Muslims, we don't believe in conversion and we don't believe in killing innocent people. Fact.
- K Singh, London, UK
Unbelievable - globally, leaders are trying to wipe out terrorism and not give a platform for its supporters, well done Ken the message you are sending out is ominous and the implications far reaching. Get rid immediately preferably of both of them.
- Janey, London, London, UK
Red Ken is such a scandal for London and has so many loose ends he should be in jail.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
Why is it only Sikhs, we always get picked on and made a big issue out of, its not fair.
- Harvinder Singh Bhandal, Southall England
Nothing Red Ken does surprises me after what he said at the Rise Anti-Racist Festival on 15 July 2007.
Regarding the teenage violence that had plagued London in 2007, Tim Donovan of the BBC put these questions to London's Mayor:
"Are you worried about this recent spate of teenage violence is it something new and alarming?... Tony Blair said, not long ago, that this was a black, cultural thing, do you agree?"
To which Livingstone replied:
"There is an element of that, particularly around the drug trade but NO! IT’S A LOT OF WHITE KIDS STABBING OTHER WHITE KIDS!"
Now that is as big a lie, if not bigger, than any Tony B Liar ever told.
In the year to 15 July 2007, 16 teenagers had been murdered in London. Ten of the dead teenagers were black boys, three were black girls, one was mixed race and the other two dead children were white. At the time of Livingstone’s great lie, ALL OF THE KNOWN KILLERS AND THOSE SUSPECTED OF THE KILLINGS WERE BLACK.
Red Ken's casual dishonesty has been captured in TRUTH: LIVINGSTONE STYLE, which can be seen at the YouTube web site.
It can also be seen within the Livingstone exposé on the Home Page of the iamanaenglishman web site.
- J. Black, London England
The point that nobody has made is what qualifications does Mr Singh have for running a transport body at a senior level?
Not so long ago Ken appointed a Gay and Lesbian Issues Adviser to a top transport board job. Nice work if you can get it, shame that Londoners were paying for what was nothing more than PC self-indulgence and cronyism.
I wonder if slippery Ken is trying to buy Sikh votes?
- Brian, London
It's come to a sorry passe that Ken's supporters are suggesting this doesn't matter because Denis Healey was a member of the Communist party... that would be the same Denis Healey who took us to the IMF in 1975 and then gave us 83% taxation. I really fancy those days coming back, don't you?
Get real, Ken is flailing around trying to get one last headline grabbing appointment and like all delusional soon to be ex leaders he just can't believe he's going.
Bye bye, Ken
- Robin, London
I assume the rally to which you're referring is the one to which Dominic Grieve, Shadow Attorney General, and therefore supporter of Boris Johnson, sent a message of support. Is Johnson, therefore and by implication (the concept by which you clearly live) a supporter of this person, as his party's support for the rally would be demonstrated by Grieve's message. It's amazing how important omission is when giving a message.
It should be added to the above that the rally was in commemoration of the invasion of the Golden Temple, during which up to 2,000 civilians were massacred and for which Sonia Ghandi has since apologised. I suspect Catholics might be a bit miffed at the invasion of the Vatican, and Jewish people might not be best pleased at an attack on the Wailing Wall.
- Brian Capaloff, Falkirk, Scotland (Formerly London)
I believe that Denis Healey was once a member of the Communist Party but that didn't prevent him becoming Defence Minister. David Cameron didn't become a pothead.
What's the problem?
- Michael Murphy, Brightlingsea, England
Livingstone should be made to say whether he knew about this or not, and if he did, then he must resign immediately.
- Peter Thurgood, London, UK
Sikhs as far as I know are peaceful and honest individuals. They are totally opposed to terrorism. Back in Panjab, India the do have 'issues' regarding their homeland but any acts of violence and terrorism have only taken place there and pinpointed individuals. The alleged Air India bombing was carried out by a totally different Sikh separatist group and vast numbers of Sikhs do not support this group as many Sikh people were on-board the flight at the time. It has even been so far as to have said that the Indian government carried out the bombing and pinned it on 'Sikh militants'
- Anon, London
If Londoners vote Red Ken back in, I for one, will never again admit that I was once an Englishman from Good old London town!
The shame and frustration I would feel, if he was ever returned would be off the scale.
- Mr Poperdom Pete, Bexleyheath
The frightening thing is London's descent into a situation where this is possible.
- Mike Newland, London
Ken needs to be stopped he's a slimy man with no real values. London needs a fresh start.
- Howard, London
And people think the BNP are the extreme, red Ken makes them look like choir boys?
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
If even just 0.5% of this article is accurate and true then Ken Livingstone "must" resign immediately and stay out of politics forever!
- Fraser, Telford Park
You can't make it up!
- Ed, Hampstead
I hang me head in shame that I have had to leave London because of Livingston's and Labour's policies. I lived in the east end for many years when neighbourhood doors were open to all. It has become a no go area and all my friends and people I know have moved out.
The true east enders are disgusted, it is no wonder the BNP are gaining ground. Don't blame this on racial discrimination, it's simply the balance is no longer there. East enders are more tolerant then most, but like anyone, it's a matter of fair play.
- Asw, Hong Kong
Livingstone is a walking disaster and how anyone can vote for him I cannot imagine.
- Bill, London
