‘Countless Sikh soldiers died for Britain’: Indian-origin Labor MP hits back at Rupert Lowe’s call to ban kirpan

Indian-origin Labor MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi has hit back at Renew Britain leader Rupert Lowe after he called for a ban on carrying the Sikh ceremonial kirpan in public places following the murder of Polish teenager Henry Nowak in the UK.Desi, a Labor MP and one of Britain’s most prominent Sikh politicians, accused Lowe of targeting the entire community.“I was born and raised here. Countless brave Sikh soldiers died for the British, proudly wearing their turbans and kirpans,” Desi wrote on the X.“Thankfully Rupert and Recovery can’t decide what Britain is. Watch out… today they’re coming for me, but tomorrow it could be you!”His comments came after Lowe posted on social media that the Renew Britain government would seek to ban kirpan ceremonies in public places.Lowe wrote: “Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi attacks ‘Renew Britain’ in Parliament as we push for Kirpan ban in public places.”“Under a restored British government, all will be equal. Non-British religious practices will not be tolerated or accepted. Enough is enough.”Lowe also called for the deportation of individuals linked to the case, writing: “Any Indian responsible for covering up the truth for Vikrum Dighawar must be deported immediately.”

Desi accuses political parties of scapegoating Sikhs

Desi, speaking in the House of Commons, condemned attempts to link individual actions to the wider Sikh community.The Labor MP said the indignity suffered by Henry Novak in his final moments “should never happen again” but criticized Reform Britain and Restore Britain for “politicizing people’s pain” and attacking Sikhs at ceremonies.Desi argued that the weapons used in the attack were not of the type carried by practicing Sikhs for the ceremonial kirpan and accused political opponents of “scapegoating” the entire community.“Reform has decided to find scapegoats and throw whole communities under the bus,” he told MPs.

Digwa was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Henry Novak

The political row follows the murder in December 2025 of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old British-Polish university student in Southampton.Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for murder and carrying a knife in public.Nowak, from Chafford Bridge, Essex, is studying accounting and finance at the University of Southampton, having recently completed his first semester.According to prosecutors, the fatal confrontation took place on Belmont Road in the Portswood area of ​​Southampton at around 11.30pm on December 3, 2025, when the two men passed each other on the pavement.During the trial, Digwa claimed he acted in self-defence, claiming Nowak appeared drunk and became aggressive, using racial slurs, punching him and ripping off his turban before reaching for the blade. Jurors rejected that claim and found him guilty of murder.The court heard Nowak suffered multiple stab wounds and tried to escape by climbing over a fence before collapsing to the ground.Digwa’s mother Kiran Kaur, 53, was also found guilty of assisting an offender after prosecutors said she removed the weapon from the scene.

Body camera footage sparks outrage

The case drew further national attention after police body camera footage showed Nowak repeatedly telling officers he had been stabbed while he was handcuffed and lying on the ground.In the video, a police officer asks where he was stabbed and then says: “I don’t think you have a partner.”The teenager later died from his injuries.Prime Minister Keir Starmer also said body camera footage posed “serious problems” for police.“Body camera footage released this week shows Henry repeatedly telling officers that he had been stabbed as he lay handcuffed in bed with life-threatening injuries,” Starmer said, adding that the circumstances of the police response needed a thorough review.The video sparked widespread criticism from Hampshire Police, who later apologized.Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones described the incident as a “national tragedy”.Henry’s father spoke outside the court after the verdict, calling for a transparent investigation but urging people not to use his son’s death to fuel division.The family said they did not want the murder to be used “to create further hatred, division or tension”.