Labour Party’s stance over Article 370 sparks anger amongst British Hindus
Many British-Indian Hindu constituents have been strongly displeased by the Labour Party’s recent support of Kashmir, by standing against India’s revocation of Article 370.
The Party finalised its stance on the foreign matter during their annual conference in September 2019, in which the overwhelming majority of Labour MPs supported a motion of intervening in the Kashmir dispute in the aim of restoring basic human rights for Kashmiri citizens.
Labour MP Keith Vaz has said, “The emergency Resolution passed at the Labour Party Conference last week has been misguided and unhelpful. The motion was agreed without the approval of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party, or the Leader of the Party, Jeremy Corbyn. It has created unnecessary distress and division within the Party and the country.
“People have strongly-held views on Kashmir. Although many have settled in the UK., they have friends, family and emotional links to the region. It would be wrong to allow this matter to distract from the amazing relationships they share in the towns and cities all over Britain.
“I have therefore written to the Chair of the N.E.C., Andi Fox, and to the Leader of the Party, Jeremy Corbyn, asking them to recall the motion and hold a proper debate at the N.E.C. to adopt a common Party position that does not divide our communities. I deplore the attacks that have been made on the staff, visitors, and building of the Indian High Commission in London. We live in a Parliamentary democracy and so there is freedom of expression, but this provides no excuse for damage to the sovereign territory of another country. These attacks must cease.
“Issues of sovereignty are a matter for the Indian Government; border issues are matters for the Governments of India and Pakistan. This is a political and not a religious issue. Third-party involvement from countries, especially a former colonial power that originally caused this problem, are unhelpful and unwise.”
A lot of British-Indian members of the Hindu community have voiced their disapproval; one dissenter was Jai Purohit, leader of Shakti Mandir, who said, “There is now lot of anger amongst Hindus towards Leicester East Labour MP Mr Keith Vaz for remaining silent and conspicuously trying to avoid the issue hoping it will settle down (it will not until the motion is withdrawn) and not standing up for them in this hour of crisis. He has certainly let them down”.
A lot of British-Indian members of the Hindu community have voiced their disapproval; one dissenter was Jai Purohit, leader of Shakti Mandir, who said, “There is now lot of anger amongst Hindus towards Leicester East Labour MP Mr. Keith Vaz for remaining silent and conspicuously trying to avoid the issue hoping it will settle down (it will not until the motion is withdrawn) and not standing up for them in this hour of crisis. He has certainly let them down”.
Vaz has served in the House of Commons for over 32 years, was the first Indian-origin MP since 1922. He has been re-elected in Leicester East eight times.
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By Arjen Gill
Post updated 16/10/2019 with comments from MP Keith Vaz.
