David Cameron honoured for his work for Sikh community in India

London, Nov 10: Ahead of his visit to India, British Prime Minister David Cameron has been presented with a Special Recognition Award in recognition of the services he rendered to the Sikh community.

"David Cameron, during his visit to India earlier this year, became the first serving Prime Minister to pay his respects at The Darbar Sahib (The Golden Temple)," the citation by the Sikh Awards 2013 said. At the memorial site in Jallianwala Bagh Gardens in Amritsar, Cameron laid a wreath at the memorial to the 1919 Amritsar massacre.

"Writing in the memorial book of condolence, Cameron described the massacre as 'a deeply shameful event in British history', adding "we must never forget what happened here," it said. "Cameron is also the first serving UK Prime Minister to host a Vaisakhi celebration reception at Downing Street where 'Keertan' (singing God's praises and invoking his blessings) was performed at his residence for the first time.

The Vaisakhi reception is now a firm fixture in the Number 10 Calendar," the citation said. After receiving the award last night at 10 Downing Street, Cameron said: "It is a tremendous honour and privilege to receive the award. These awards are all about highlighting the very best of the Sikh faith both here in Britain and abroad.

"It was such a privilege to visit the Golden Temple at Amritsar earlier this year and on that visit I learnt a huge amount about the values that are so important to Sikhs across the world - a devotion to God, earning an honest living, sharing your community."

"These are the values that run right through the heart of this great faith, and they're the values you're here to celebrate tonight," Cameron said.

Navdeep Singh, publisher of the Sikh Directory Ltd and founder of the Sikh Awards, presented the award to Cameron. The British Prime Minister is scheduled to make his third visit to India in two years from November 14. At the Sikh Awards held at the Hilton Hotel, India-based Harpal Singh Saggu received the Sikh Businessman Award.

Saggu operates 'Synergy Group' which has an annual turnover of USD 200 million and over 4,000 employees. In November 2012, Saggu revolutionised the construction industry across the globe with the launch of 'INSTACON', an ultrafast smart building solution manufactured in a controlled factory environment and shipped to a prepared building site for installation. India-based Harpreet Kaur won the Sikh Businesswoman Award.

She was only 11-year-old when she began investing in the stock market.

Kaur is the founder of GICF Group, which consists of GICF Education, Finance, Productions and Soch Trust.

PTI