(L-R): Allison Thewliss MP, Pat McFadden MP, Seema Malhtora MP and Preet Kaur Gill MP hold the National Sikh Awareness and History Month placard.
(L-R): Allison Thewliss MP, Pat McFadden MP, Seema Malhtora MP and Preet Kaur Gill MP hold the National Sikh Awareness and History Month placard.

At Pat McFadden MP’s Parliamentary Vaisakhi reception, Seema Malhotra, the Member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston, launched the first annual National Sikh Awareness and History Month.

National Sikh Awareness and History Month is an initiative that has been spearheaded by Seema Malhotra, after she tabled an Early Day Motion last year that called “on the Government to mark the significance of April in our calendar through recognising it as Sikh Awareness and History Month in the United Kingdom.” This EDM attracted 100 signatures from MPs, across every party, region and nation of Parliament.

At the launch, Seema Malhotra said: “We’ve come a long way since last April when, with cross-party support, I tabled an Early Day Motion calling for the UK to recognise April as National Sikh Awareness and History Month.

“[This] has been established in other countries and has been important and successful in raising awareness, breaking down barriers and improving cohesion and dialogue.”

Also speaking at the reception were, among others, the first female Sikh MP, Preet Kaur Gill, the first turbaned Sikh MP, Tan Dhesi, the Liberal Democrats Leader, Vince Cable, the SNP MP, Alison Thewliss, the Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, and the de facto Deputy PM, David Lidington. McDonnell also gave a message of support from the Leader of the Opposition, who unfortunately could not be there.

Seema Malhotra’s full speech is on Youtube below.

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