Labour Leader Ed Miliband thanked the Hindu Community for their “incredible work” across all walks of life when he visited Shree Swaminarayan temple in Willesden on Sunday.
“Whether it is in business for the profits you create, the wealth you generate, the jobs you provide or in the charitable sector or in politics, the Hindu community plays a great role in our country and I thank you for that,” he said.
He was there with his wife Justine Miliband to attend a ceremonial celebration, where he received a traditional welcome with garland and tilak. He later joined some senior labour party members, including MP for Leicester East Keith Vaz and MP for Ealing Southall Virendra Sharma, to perform the aarti.
Other Labour members present were MP for Tooting Sadiq Khan, MP for Harrow West Gareth Thomas, parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn Tulip Siddiq, parliamentary candidate for Feltham and Heston Seema Malhotra, parliamentary candidate for Brent South Dawn Butler and Labour candidate for the Harrow East Uma Kumaran.
Addressing the devotees, Mr Miliband expressed his appreciation of the Hindu values of family, faith and community, adding that the strength of this religion comes from its values.
He also underlined his plan of one-nation that aims to use the talent of every person in the country and “break the barriers” of discrimination.
"I know there is a huge challenge of making sure we have got equal representation in our country, that we look like the country we seek to serve,” he said.
"For me and the Labour Party this is a battle that is not yet won because until we look like the country we seek to serve, not simply a number of representatives but a truly representative set of representatives, then I know my work won't be completed," he added.
He pledged that his labour government would be "outward looking" and would be committed to work with international allies, including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In an one-to-one interview Asian Voice asked about the concern in some sections of the community who are alleging that Labour party under Miliband is “Anti-Hindu”. To that Mr Miliband said he cherishes a strong relationship with the Hindu community and on becoming the Prime Minister he would work towards further strengthening the links both at home and abroad.
Labour party’s support for the controversial Lord Harries Caste Amendment was condemned by some from the Hindu and Jain communities. Justifying it as a “cross-bench amendment”, Miliband assured that there will be proper consultation with the concerned communities before the amendment is implemented.
“I have built up the relationship with the Hindu community over four and a half years as the leader and that is something I have valued on a number of occasions. I would be somebody who continues with this relation when I become the Prime Minister,” he told Asian Voice.
