Politics · United Kingdom · 12 hrs ago
Badenoch criticises SNP post about Sikh festival during Remembrance silence
A Scottish Government post about Bandi Chhor Divas appeared at 11am on Remembrance Sunday, during the two-minute silence.
Bandi Chhor Divas is a Sikh festival, and the post appeared on the government’s account on X. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the timing disrespectful, while saying Sikh soldiers’ sacrifices are part of the country’s shared history.
Scottish Conservative MP Harriet Cross asked First Minister John Swinney who decided to publish the festival post and argued the government had not marked Remembrance Sunday on its main account.
Swinney said that claim was categorically false, pointing to a post about his attendance at the National Service of Remembrance that was shared from his official account and reposted by the main government channel.
The dispute is over what the government posted and when, not whether the two occasions can be marked on the same day.
Cross called for answers, while Swinney urged her to withdraw her claim and apologise.
Kemi Badenoch criticised a Scottish Government post about the Sikh festival Bandi Chorr Divas, published at 11am during the Remembrance Sunday two-minute silence.
Badenoch called the timing “cringe and disrespectful” and said the government should explain its decision.
Shadow Scottish Secretary Harriet Cross questioned why the government account posted about the festival but, she said, did not mark Remembrance Sunday.
First Minister John Swinney rejected that claim, saying posts about his attendance at the National Service of Remembrance were shared on official accounts.
- Who
- Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the post; First Minister John Swinney and Shadow Scottish Secretary Harriet Cross also responded.
- What
- A Scottish Government X post about Bandi Chorr Divas was published during the Remembrance Sunday two-minute silence, prompting a dispute over the government’s social media posts.
- When
- At 11am on Remembrance Sunday. The articles were published on 9 November 2026.
- Where
- On the Scottish Government’s X account.
- Why
- Badenoch and Cross criticised the timing and the account’s coverage of Remembrance Sunday. Swinney said the claim that the government did not acknowledge the day was false.
Harriet Cross and Kemi Badenoch
John Swinney
Remembrance coverage
Harriet Cross and Kemi Badenoch
Cross said the government account showed “complete disregard” for Remembrance Sunday; Badenoch said it made the government’s priorities clear.
John Swinney
Swinney said the claim that the government did not acknowledge Remembrance Sunday was “categorically false” and pointed to posts about his attendance at the service.
Festival post timing
Harriet Cross and Kemi Badenoch
Badenoch called posting “Bandi Chhor Divas!” during the silence “cringe and disrespectful.
John Swinney
Swinney’s reply focused on the government’s Remembrance posts and did not directly address the timing of the festival post.
Harriet Cross wrote to John Swinney asking who decided to publish the festival post and why the government account did not post about Remembrance Sunday.
The Daily Mail published its report on the criticism and dispute.
- Festival
- Bandi Chorr Divas
- Post time
- 11am during the Remembrance Sunday two-minute silence
- Social media platform
- X
- First Minister
- John Swinney
- Conservative leader
- Kemi Badenoch
1 source
What people are saying
You can celebrate a Sikh festival and Remembrance Sunday on the same day. But shouting "Bandi Chhor Divas!" during the two minute silence is cringe and disrespectful.
This assertion is categorically false – and you should withdraw it.
This failure to mark Remembrance Sunday shows a total disregard for the sacrifice our soldiers made and continue to make in defence of our country.