A report released by the Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB), 'Caste in the UK' has found that Caste discrimination is not endemic in British society. The report exposes MPs who have not declared in the Members Register that they sit on the Board of lobbying organisations on whose behalf they have run many campaigns in the House of Commons.
The HFB Report also calls for a parliamentary enquiry into the activities of these MPs, who have created a strong lobby in Parliament backed by several Christian groups to highlight issues of caste discrimination in India, particularly amongst the Dalit communities. Although MPs do not have to declare unremunerated interests, it could be seen as 'good practice' to declare formal links if they are campaigning in Parliament on behalf of these organisations.
The MPs named in the report have run the Parliamentary Dalit campaign on behalf of organisations like Christian Solidarity Worldwide and the Dalit Solidarity Network. Several of these MPs also have Research Assistants funded by Christian Action Research and Education, a Christian lobbying group that has been described in several newspapers reports as being 'right wing'.
Ramesh Kallidai, secretary general of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said: "There has been some criticism against the caste system with regards to the treatment of Dalits in the Britain. However, it is not right for the UK Government to take a position on the rites, beliefs or practices of a particular religion. Social interactions and personal choices are an expression of people's freedom, and any barriers should be removed through education and awareness, not through legislation."
Respondents to the HFB survey say that they have not experienced caste discrimination in the provision of education, employment or goods and services in the UK. However, due to cultural practises and tradition, caste can sometimes play a role in social interactions and personal choices like marriages, conversations and friendships. Respondents have suggested that the extent of the problem has been exaggerated and requested that the Government should not interfere in personal choices and matters of social interaction. Instead, community organisations should be empowered to break any existing barriers to promote further intra-community integration and cohesion.
Rickie Sehgal of Transputec Computers who is Chair of the HFB Governance Committee said, "We believe that this is an important issue that needs to be brought to light. Why should MPs funded by Christian organisations campaign for Dalit discrimination in the Hindu community? Could it be because the evangelists in India keep playing the Dalit card to increase the number of converts? 80% of the Christian community in India have been converted from the Dalits under promise of equality in the Christian faith. Our report however highlights that even after conversion to Christianity, Dalits in India continue to face discrimination in the Church by 'higher caste' Christians. They are even buried separately in different parts of the cemetery. Recently people were killed in a riot between higher-caste and Dalit Christians. Promising equality on the basis of conversion and then denying them that is misleading."
The report recommends that the Hindu leadership in the UK should find ways of respecting traditions and challenging bias based on family background or religious tradition within the community, as well as supporting the creation of unity across castes, sects and traditions through a structured programme of outreach and positive interaction.
It suggests that community organisations, like the HFB, should be empowered by the Government to undertake education programmes in partnership with Dalit organisations to address cultural and behavioural issues faced through social interactions and personal choices.
MPs whose links to Dalit and Christian organisations have not been declared in Members Register even though they have campaigned on their behalf in Parliament include Andy Reed, Rob Marris, Alistair Burt and Jeremy Corbyn.
The full report can be downloaded from the web link below:
The full report can be downloaded from the web link below:
Low Res file (0.7MB): http://www.hfb.org.uk/FileServer.aspx?oID=409&lID=0
High Res file (5MB): http://www.hfb.org.uk/FileServer.aspx?oID=408&lID=0