Dear Readers,
The uproar from British-Indians as well as other citizens who believe in democracy, decency and harmony amongst communities following the Labour Party resolution of September 26, now removed from the party conference website, in a way illustrates the importance of raising our voice and demonstrating disagreement in a civilised society.
Alpesh Patel's article on the comment Page (3) has put it in a remarkably subtle tone. This week, we received hundreds of emails, calls, messages and letters. Our leaders and community have fought with the Labour leadership in their irresponsible connivance. The resolution is damaging, dividing, and dangerous. No wonder, within minutes of our issuance of the letter of protest to the leader of the Labour Party, Rt. Hon. Jeremy Corbyn, the nefarious resolution was removed.
However, Mr Corbyn, merely removing the resolution from the website is simply not sufficient. You have to immediately completely revoke it. Unless you do that, you are not doing justice to the position you hold as a prospective leader of the country and as the leader of the Shadow Government.
Dear readers, several issues similar to the recent faux pas, have risen in the past many years. Among subjects are: Why there is no person of Indian origin in the top posts, whether in the House of Commons or House of Lords from the labour benches? See what is happening with the Conservative Party of Great Britain, where three Indian-origin members enjoy respectful positions in the Cabinet.
One could take to learn from Canada. See page 25 for Mitul Paniker's column.
One would believe that either suitable British-Indians keep away from Labour party or the party is unable to appreciate the quality and calibre of upcoming British-Indian leadership.
Some readers feel the Labour Party is ignoring Indian community either because of their educational excellence or their entrepreneurial prowess. Some people think Labour Party is seeking vote banks thriving on division and intolerance. It is untrue, I have to say they don't really act like it.
Some have also pointed that the government and establishment only take notice of troublemakers or violence-propagators or those who have come forth with extreme ideologies.
I for one, need to be convinced of various such assumptions. We must not forget that the Labour Party was founded on fundamental values of equality for all and worldwide racial harmony. Yes, present Labour Party management has raised some important issues, but we should not assume the worst of the motives.
I honestly urge my Labour friends, who are so many over my five decade association, formerly as a member and off late as an admirer. Equally, I would not like to assume that the irresponsible, undemocratic, and unconstitutional resolution was purely build on religious bigotry.
I have several Pakistani friends right from my days at university here. My roommate was a Pakistani Muslim from Lahore. I lived in a house in Streatham owned by a Pakistani Muslim who allowed my family to perform a weekly satsang (religious discourse) every week along with my friends, in 1967/1968.
From my experience in India, East Africa, and here, most Muslims are like their Hindu brethren and believe in religious harmony and progress. Yes, it is very sad and unbecoming of a member of Commons or Lords, if you encourage and connive the violent behaviour of those in the last few weeks. Stones, eggs, bottles, paints were thrown at the walls of India House and more seriously, some peaceful Indians were injured as they tried to leave after celebrating Indian independence.
Such rubbish behaviour is not only unacceptable, but should not be tolerated. But I urge not to paint all with the same brush.
Stop dividing and start uniting
The Labour Party and other parties will take note that British-Indians with support from fellow citizens from other faith and traditions have taken a stand worth commending. Allow me to make one more observation. Our country “UK” is going through more serious crisis- the Brexit. The governing party are in a way disunited. The alternative party has so far failed to convince voters to choose them.
It is important to our vibrant country that we have a strong opposition that has a positive agenda and some common sense. It is not allowed, and certainly not in a place to be divisive and vindictive.
Let me put it this way. Ever since I arrived in the publishing sector, way back in early '70s, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar have considered it their duty to campaign for certain standards, and against certain injustices. Our first major campaign was against former prime minister Indira Gandhi's Emergency reign. In our June edition of 1976, we published a poem by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore on our front page. The Indian government had prohibited the poem and I was even briefly banned from India House.
Then came the Immigration and Nationality Acts of British government. We extensively fought for eradication of racial discrimination and equal opportunities. We also launched a campaign for Hong Kong Indians. One of our biggest campaigns was the Hare Krishna Temple Defence Movement. The Movement was for the temple to remain open for darshan despite adverse decisions from the highest courts of England and the European Union. With strong support of our readers and community we have always been successful.
Thanks to the teachings of Shrila Prabhupad, the saint of the ISKCON movement, the leadership of HKTDM and, support of people of all faiths, over 35,000 people marched to the Houses of Parliament from Lincoln Inn fields. Despite the sheer number of people, not a single account of violence, physical or verbal, was recorded.
All our campaigns have been based on Gandhian principles of peaceful and non-violent protests. We are determined to maintain the same standards. (Gandhian Legacy is the India of today. See comment on P3.)
I personally expect Labour Party leaders, and members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords to walk together and urge Corbyn to revoke the resolution and instead, try to build bridges with the British-Indian community and any other communities who have been sidelined and mistreated.
