Media Release

It’s time we focused on the persecuted minorities

18 December 2017: Bob Katter MP has again raised Australia’s burning issue of mass (visa) migration – 640,000 a year from mostly China, India, Middle East and Nth Africa. Few will ever go home and yet there is no visa category for even blatantly persecuted groups such as Sikhs, Jews and Christians.
In response to the Australian Supreme Sikh Council’s plea for help, Mr Katter said he is determined that their voice will be heard in the Parliament of Australia.
“The Australian economy generates each year only 200,000 jobs. There are over 200,000 school leavers each year. They compete for these jobs against 640,000 visa arrivals.
“Clearly we have a responsibility to take people who are ‘no danger to Australia’ and have proved to be exemplary citizens and who integrate happily into the Australian family.
“Logic screams for visa recognition of the plight of Sikhs, Jews and Christians. It is appalling that Jewish people are being persecuted “here in Australia” by people brought in by the Government from Nth Africa and the Middle East,” Mr Katter said.
The Supreme Sikh Council of Australia claims Sikhs face a planned genocide and continuous human rights violations in India. Recent arrests of 47 Sikhs in India are only the latest examples of intolerance toward anyone raising their voice against injustices. Among recent arrests is UK citizen and Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal - BBC reported a Sikh group alleged that Jagtar from Dumbarton was forced in to a van on November 4th by Punjab Police. Scottish born 30-year-old Jagtar was in Punjab ahead of his wedding. Sikh Federation UK fears that he is being targeted because of his work highlighting the Sikh genocide in 1984. It has been reported he was out shopping with his wife and a cousin in Jalandhar city, Punjab when this incident happened. His crimes are reportedly “running a magazine” in the UK about atrocities during the 1984 Sikh genocide and “influencing the youth through social media”.
Australia’s Supreme Sikh Council claims that Jagtar Singh was electrocuted in police custody and that no one was made aware of his whereabouts as he was initially denied access to lawyers and consulate staff.
“It brings home our arguments against visa entries from N. Africa and the Middle East (including Pakistan). It would appear that virtually none of the Africa Middle East Visas have gone to the persecuted minority groups, the Sikhs, the Jews and the Christians,” Mr Katter said.
“Sikhs are from India (some Pakistan). India’s had democracy and rule of law for over a century, but as with many democracies, such evolves into a “tyranny of the majority”.
The Sikh religion is very similar to Christianity - equality of all before God, do good to others. Many Indians in contrast, still recognise Brahmin untouchables class and social divide.
“Surely integration should be an overriding consideration in taking visas. Preserving our way of life, enhancing and strengthening it, instead of drowning it,” Mr Katter said.
Mr Katter will be submitting these issues to Parliament in the new year, that Sikhs have proven themselves to be good and patriotic Australians.
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