Cameron 'honoured' by Sikh award

Prime Minister David Cameron was shown around the Golden Temple at Amritsar in Punjab, India, during a visit to the country earlier this year
10 November 2013

Prime Minister David Cameron said it was a "tremendous honour" to be given the Special Recognition Award at The Sikh Awards last night.

The Sikh Awards, now in its fourth year, celebrates the achievements of the global Sikh community. The event took place last night at the Hilton Park Lane, London.

Mr Cameron was awarded the Special Recognition Award for his work with the Sikh community in India.

He was the first serving British prime minister to pay his respects at The Golden Temple in India.

Mr Cameron laid a wreath and signed a book of condolence at the memorial site in Jallianwala Bagh Gardens, in Amritsar, Punjab. He also marked the Sikh traditional festival of Vaisakhi, which has been celebrated at 10 Downing Street since 2011.

Receiving his award at 10 Downing Street, Mr Cameron said: "It is a tremendous honour to receive this award and I'd like to say a big thank you for the privilege."

He added: "These awards are all about highlighting the very best of the Sikh faith both here in Britain and abroad, and I want to congratulate all those who are being recognised for their contribution."

Two Britons were among the winners at The Sikh Awards. Jatinder Singh Durhailay, 25, from Ilford, won the People's Choice Award. The artist's work has been exhibited around the world, including at the Tate Modern at the National Army Museum.

Professor Harminder Singh Dua, who is the chair and professor of ophthalmology at the University Hospital Nottingham, won the award for Professions. He is the current president of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and editor-in-chief of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Mr Navdeep Singh, founder of the awards, said: "Tonight has been truly amazing. This is more than any of us could have hoped for. When I founded The Sikh Award I began with the simple dream of recognising and honouring the potential of the Sikh community in the UK.

"Now, four years on, it has blossomed into a global story of Sikh success, hard work and the community's unique religious and cultural identity."

The ceremony, which was organised by The Sikh Directory, was attended by around 750 guests. It was hosted by former London Mayoral adviser Mr Kulveer Ranger and Kiss FM radio presenter DJ Neev.

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