Kneecapping of a Nation

Kapil’s Khichadi

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Kneecapping of a Nation

I just read the news that the police are looking at dropping the terms “Islamist terrorism” and “jihadis” when describing attacks by those who claim Islam as their motive.  I wonder what your first reaction is to that headline news?

Mine was to remember other events in the recent past.  For example, the so-called Black Lives Matter (BLM) fiasco, they were allowed full access to do conduct their vandalism and breaking the COVID restrictions in full view of the police.  Not only that, they brow beat the cops to take the knee.  We witnessed politicians jumping on the bandwagon and taking the knee, followed by sports people, entertainment artists, faith leaders, and the list goes on.

Yet have we ever seen any mass protests to highlight the black on black crimes?  Black people are significantly more likely to be killed by other black people than our police, yet we see the extremists in our society wishing to defund the police.

Not so long ago we witnessed Extinction Rebellion (ER) protesters flooding our streets with their vile and extremism. Again, the police sat back and allowed the law to be broken and for the crooks to get away with it. Why?

Last year we witnessed Pakistani hooligans storm the streets of central London on 15^th August when they attacked Indians celebrating their Independence Day at the High Commission of India in London. Witnesses recount the terror as they shielded children and senior citizens from objects being thrown at them. Yes, the police stood by whilst this illegality was allowed in the name of, well to be honest, I have no idea! Was it appeasement to the Muslim community?  Was it appeasement to the extremists who are supporting the terrorists in Kashmir?  Was it to keep the Pakistani Mayor of London happy?  I don’t quite know.

You then begin to wonder why we never had the Mayor lead protests for the victims of the Pakistani grooming gangs? Surely white girls matter.

If you recall ‘People’s Vote’ campaign took over central London, led by Sadiq Khan, to protest the democratic vote on Brexit. Yes, you cannot make this up, an elected Mayor took part in a protest – to protest against a democratic vote that the British people had mandated time and again.

The madness of protests has gripped some people to such a degree that we even had one that was against the President of the United States, our closest friendly nation, the most powerful democracy in the world and we had the Mayor of London, again, leading it.  The same Mayor is unable to lead a protest against the dictatorship of China that is intent in killing the Uighurs, in harvesting their organs and in sterilising their women. That’s his moral compass.

I do not object to protests, as long as they are peaceful.  I do believe it is right to hold to account public figures and bodies that appease to extremists in order to curry favour. I do object to the fake outrage brigade that has now become a full-time industry. These people seem to have nothing better to do than to collect their dole and hit the streets with any anti-national protest that is the flavour of the month. Some even get paid to come along on these protest marches.

Our nation is getting kneecapped. The anti-national forces are well armed, well groomed, and well resourced. This nation is in danger of total anarchy if we do no arrest this decline now.

British Labour Party Appeaser of Terrorists?

Twitter: @kk_OEG

On Wednesday 25^th September 2019 the cat was finally out of the bag. And what may you say am I referring to? It was the day when the British Labour Party under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn passed a motion during their annual conference that can only be described as anti-India and pro-Pakistan.

The resolution was proposed by Uzma Rasool and Seconded by Cllr Neghat Khan and supported by Naz Shah MP and Kaneez Akhtar.  JKSDMI (Jammu and Kashmir Self-Determination Movement International) led by Cllr Yasmine Dar, Chairperson JKSDMI UK and Mohammed Azam were active participants for the motion and Raja Najabat Hussain, Chairman JKSDMI, was also present at the Conference.

I give you this information to show the infiltration that has taken place in British politics by the Pakistani community.  I refer of course to the British Labour Party which one can say is increasingly becoming Sharia compliant.

There was outrage from NRI, PIOs, the HCIL and of course from Delhi.  This was quite surprising to me.  After all, why the outrage?  The Labour Party has not hidden it’s anti-India, anti-Modi and even anti-Hindu credentials from anyone.  They have openly campaigned against India and Indian interest.  In fact, it was Labour Party MPs who put forward the motion to place a Visa ban on the then CM Modi.  It was the same Labour Party that objected to PM Modi and his visit(s) to the UK.  It was the same Labour Party that had tabled several anti-India and anti-Modi EDM (Early Day Motions) in Parliament.

We have ALL known for more than a decade that the British Labour Party under many of its previous leaders, including its present leader Jeremy Corbyn, has steadfastly followed a course of action that has been pro-Pakistan.  They do so because the huge Sunni vote bank of Pakistani heritage has leveraged its position to such an extent that politically they now control the narrative of the Labour Party when it comes to India and Pakistan.

I have written several articles since at least 2014 in which I have explicitly made it clear to all the readers the anti-India underbelly of the Labour Party.  I know that both HCIL and Delhi are fully aware of the politics of the Labour Party. Yet, and this is what is so astounding, we Indians have given a platform to our enemy at every given opportunity.  Some Labour MPs and Councillors seem to have a free pass to walk in and out of HCIL. They are invited to all the key functions. They are wined and dined. They are given the stage to narrate their fake support for India to keep the Indian voters on side.  Even Delhi is guilty of such practice. Some Labour MPs and Councillors have had access to the corridors of power since 2014.  How is that possible?  Ask yourself a simple question. The Government of PM Modi allowed MPs from the Labour Party to have access to Delhi for their photo shoots, the very political party that sought a Visa ban on CM Modi and the same political party that campaigned against PM Modi’s visit to the UK.  Think about it folks, what on earth is going on with us Indians?  How stupid are we that we allow our enemy into our homes to exploit us?  Is this any different to the invaders who enslaved Bharat for some 1500 years?  They did so because the ‘Sepoys’ of Hindustan sold the people out for their own privileges.  It seems very little has changed.  The white man in London still wants to tell the Indian how to do things. Only this time it’s the Labour Party.

It was only after this public embarrassment that the HCIL cancelled its dinner at the Labour Party conference. Yes, you read that correctly, the HCIL has been hosting dinners at the Labour Party conference for many years.  Why on earth would the largest democracy, one of the biggest emerging economies belittle itself to a British political party that spits in its face?  Is there no honour?  Where is the Lion of Bharat?  It has become a little kitten being patted by the British Labour Party that treats all Indians with utter contempt. Is this going to be the new emerging superpower called India?

So why is this happening?  Well let’s be clear. We have operatives representing India in London, as well as those who run Delhi who have quite honestly let the side down.  They have relied on their friends as advisors.  The only problem, these so-called friends are in fact members (or ex-members) of the Labour Party.  Think about it, we have got Indian officials who are advised by people whose first loyalty is to the British Labour Party.  They know who they are, as do I.  I have just heard that some of them are claiming that they had left the Labour Party many years back. Interesting because those very same people have been campaigning for the Labour Party at local elections, General Elections and in fact, even for the Pakistani Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.  Yes, the same Sadiq Khan who sat on his backside whilst the Pakistani goons were violating the peace outside the HCIL on the 15^th of August.  Think about it, the Indian Consulate was attacked by Pakistani goons whilst the Pakistani London Mayor turned a blind eye and the Police stood by and watched.  Indian men, women and children at one point had to seek sanctuary within the HCIL building itself.  And even after such open provocation, the HCIL thought it would be a great idea to host a dinner at the Labour Party Conference.  Think about the utter madness of those in senior positions.  Would a British or American consulate ever allow anything like this to happen? Never.

I highlight this uncomfortable truth so we can set the developments taking place in some sort of context.  In my view Pakistan has played this brilliantly. They have over the past 4 decades spent millions of pounds to ensure that grassroots organisations, and grassroots champions of Pakistan are resourced well.  Many are full-time operatives. Their sole purpose to fight the battle against India.  They have infiltrated the Labour Party which is now becoming Sharia Complaint.  This infiltration is embedded to such a degree that proportionately Muslims are represented significantly more when it comes to positions as Councillors, or MPs or even in the Lords.  A terrorist nation such as Pakistan has used the oldest trick in the book, spend money and it has resourced its supporters so they can fight the local battle.  And what has India done? Nothing in comparison. In fact, the champions of India who have fought the battle with one hand tied behind their back have never been supported. They continue the fight because they are true Indians.  They do so at their own expense and they put their lives at stake each and every day. And for all their effort what do they get?  Nothing. Why you may ask. The answer is the ‘Sepoys’ who are the gate keepers to the Indian hierarchy ensure that no one of competence gets through, lest they outshine them. If the PM of India wants to know whose advice he should seek when it comes to the UK (or even America) then one call to Dr Swamy will do the trick.  He will tell them the facts as they are on the ground.

Whilst I have outed the HCIL for their oversight, let me turn to the hundreds of organisations representing Indians in the UK. These might be Mandirs, Mosques, Gurdwaras, community centres and so on. How many of their presidents have written to Jeremy Corbyn to demand that the motion be rescinded?  How many of these organisations will entertain Labour MPs and Councillors during our upcoming Dussehra, Navratri and Diwali celebrations?  You see, we are our own worst enemies.  These Labour MPs who have stabbed us, not in the back – but directing in our chest facing us, will be invited to contaminate our sacred religious and cultural events.

The modern day ‘Sepoys’ thrive in our organisations because we the public could not care less about what they do. Every one of us who shouts and screams temporarily on this Labour Party motion will be the same people who will remain silent when these Labour anti-India politicians come to visit our events.

Not all organisations are the same though. Thankfully we have got some organisations like the Hindu Forum of Britain and the National Council of Hindu Temples that have historically exposed the true face of the British Labour Party. They get attacked from both the lovers of Labour as well as the ‘Sepoys’ from within. I take this opportunity to commend them for their efforts.  If only all our organisations and leaders had the same Dharmic courage, then so much that is wrong can be put right.

Let us come back to the original point of the Labour Party passing a motion that is anti-India with respect to Jammu and Kashmir.  As early as 2009 I traced an EDM in the British Parliament that is anti-India on Kashmir.  It was signed by Jeremy Corbyn who was just an MP at that time.  Now he is the leader of the Labour Party that wishes to form the next Government.  Meaning Jeremy Corbyn wants to be the next British Prime Minister.  Just take a breath and give that idea some thought.  Now do you see how far back the Pakistani hand stretches. For decades they have patiently invested time, money and energy in cultivating the Labour Party so that when the time comes, they would have their support.  Of course, the game is not over yet!  But it’s time for India and Indians to grow up.  British Indians who continue to vote for the Labour Party, let us be clear, you are traitors. Yes, that is indeed a strong word, but it represents my genuine belief of their actions. When people vote for a political party that is hell bent on destroying your ancestral heritage, then what else can we call them but traitors. I say to all of them, you alone are responsible for the mess you help to create when you vote for this anti-India party. The buck will stop at your door.

For India, for how long will you give privilege and access to those who undermine the nation? I know the Indian Government is securing advice from certain PIOs and NRIs.  Let me make it clear, these people are or have been members of the Labour Party for years.  Their best friends are the seniority in the Labour Party as well as in the House of Lords.  Do you honestly think their advice will ever be truthful?  These PIOs and NRIs might be friends of the BJP hierarchy, but they are traitors to India and Indians.  It’s time people in Delhi woke up to ground reality and understand what is really at stake.

With respect to the UK I have conducted a straw poll on Indian origin politicians in the Labour Party.  I wrote to the MPs and also to Labour Councillors in Leicester (the city which has such a huge Indian population).  Let me list out these people for your reference:

Indian Origin Labour MPs: Keith Vaz, Virendra Sharma, Lisa Nandy, Valerie Vaz, Seema Malhotra, Thangam Debonnaie, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Preet Gill.

Leicester City Indian Origin Labour Councillors: Deepak Bajaj, Padmini Chamund, Ratilal Govind, Rashmikant Joshi Manjit Kaur Saini, Rita Patel, Hemant Rae Bhatia, Vijay Riyait, Gurinder Singh Sandhu, Kulwinder Singh Johal, Nita Solanki and Mahendra Valand.

Having sent them reminders to ensure they understood their response was required to my questions to them, to date only two have responded.  What does that tell you about these Indians in the Labour Party?  When faced with the truth of their treachery, they exhibit cowardice of the highest order.

The three responses (I thank them for their response):

“I am very disappointed that this motion passed at Labour Party Conference. I was not at Conference I was instead working in my constituency with schools, community groups and the police. Kashmir is a matter for India to address internally as decided by their own constitution and laws. Britain cannot preach the rights of self-determination but deny them to India itself.” Virendra Sharma MP

And

‘I’m actually very pained and shocked by this motion taken by the Labour delegates. I firmly believe that it is India’s internal matter and no foreign political party has any right to intervene in such a manner. I’m writing a letter to Jeremy Corbyn along with many other Cllr colleagues and copying our respective MPs to object to it and seeking for it to be withdrawn. I have also posted my rejection on Twitter.’  Cllr Hemant Rae Bhatia.

And

Cllr Ratilal Govind who confirmed he was not at the conference and therefore he had no involvement in the vote. He has further stated, ‘I am totally against this motion’ and that he attempted to see if he could attend the conference to raise his concern but that was not possible.

I suspect if I were to ask every single Indian origin Labour Councillor the same questions, the vast majority no doubt would go into hiding.  They care more for their seats than their heritage, their faith and their bloodline.  As far as I can assess, I believe not one Indian from the Labour Party stood up on that momentous Wednesday to defend India at the Conference. Some might have been away from the conference but that still does not mean they cannot object to this absurd motion of lies and fake narrative by the Labour Party.

Where does this leave of us as far as the UK is concerned. Well fortunately the Conservative Party is actually on the side of India, broadly speaking. If you recall, it was the Tory PM Cameron who invited and gave an astounding welcome to PM Modi. Who can forget the scenes at Wembley Stadium?  British politics is in a bit of a pickle at the moment.  In this climate it is now inevitable that a General Election will take place. Probably in November. Under normal circumstance one would be fearful that the Labour Party might come into power. However, my reading of the situation is that when a General Election is finally called, the Conservative Party will win and come in with a working majority.  This is great news for India and all Indians, but it’s no thanks to PIOs or NRIs.  The proportion of NRIs and PIOs still voting for the anti-India Labour Party is still too high.  I am hopeful that this final shameful act by the Labour Party has exposed its anti-Indian mindset.  That as a result we will see a dramatic shift of Indian voters to the Conservative Party.  We Indians need to put in power the Party that is more likely to be on our side. It may not be the perfect Party with the perfect manifesto, but our bottom line should be, will they stand by us?  And if the answer is yes, then that’s where your vote goes.

The Jewish community has almost as a whole now transferred their allegiance to the Conservative Party.  They faced racist antisemitic behaviour by many in the Labour Party. They saw the Labour Party passing motions against them and in the end, as a community they realised their well being in the country would be dependent not on the Labour Party, but the Conservative Party.  It’s time we took a leaf out of their play book, it’s time to nail our colours to the Conservative mast.

If India and Indians cannot see the writing on the wall, then we know only too well who to blame.

Kapil Dudakia

Twitter: @kk_OEG

Letter from HFB and NCHT to Jeremy Corbyn.

POSTSCRIPT:

Since the article I have asked the following Labour Councillors a few questions arising. I await their response, if any:

Harrow Councillors		Brent Councillors
Councillor Niraj Dattani		Councillor Bhagwanji Chohan
Councillor Ajay Maru		Councillor Krupesh Hirani
Councillor Nitin Parekh		Councillor Mili Patel
Councillor Varsha Parmar		Councillor Rameshchandra Patel
Councillor Primesh Patel		Councillor Trupti Sangani
Councillor Kiran Ramchandani		Councillor Ketan Sheth
Councillor Rekha Shah		Councillor Krupa Sheth
Councillor Sachin Shah		Councillor Anita Thakkar
Councillor Krishna Suresh
Councillor Sasi Suresh

IT Expert and a Yoga Master

Konversations with Kapil

Twitter: @kk_OEG

My Namaste from the UK to all our readers from across the globe.  Today I wish to introduce a personality who defies all odds and all obstacles in pursuit of his dharma and his karma.  He has shown himself to be steadfast in the moral and ethical grounding he has had from our scriptures and the grace afforded to him from many esteemed and learned enlightened beings in the sphere of Dharma.  Pt. Satish K Sharma is a British Citizen of Indian origin, born in the Punjab and raised and educated in the UK. His family came to Britain in the 60s as a part of Britain’s drive to rebuild itself following the post war recession. He was Grammar School educated in the East Midlands of the 70’s and was the first of his family to graduate from University, graduating in Economics and Finance from Loughborough University.

Pt Satish Sharma in deep conversation with Prime Minister May

His early career was in Accounting and Finance as one of the new breeds of computer systems auditors.  His first mentor in the professional field advised him to leave the profession and seek an alternative that would be more fulfilling and worthy of his immense talent.   He left to work in the newly established mini and micro computer industries. After having held senior positions and directorships he established a boutique IT Consultancy working on finding creative solutions to commercial challenges. His work has taken him all over the world and he still provides consulting services to a small portfolio of corporate clients.  His greatest satisfaction is from using his global network to provide hyper cost-effective solutions for charitable projects.

I met up with Pt. Satish K Sharma and asked him a few questions:

1. What is your current position?

I’m tempted to say ‘padmasana’ since I seem to be spending more and more time teaching and speaking on Classical Yoga and Hindu Spiritual traditions, but I think you are looking for “Senior Management Consultant” in the professional sense. In addition to this, most of my time is taken up as General Secretary of the National Council of Hindu Temples (NCHT) UK where we are working to improve the contribution which our Hindu Temple community is able to make in the UK as well as helping it to develop and evolve. In my spare time I am helping several other non-profits, here and internationally, to become established and to expand as well as supporting charitable start-ups, such as the new “Peace in Ireland” initiative which I am proud to be a part of.

2. You have had an extraordinary journey from your birth country to your home now in the UK. Can you tell us a bit about your toughest challenges, your proudest achievements in your profession as well as being one of the leading community leaders from the Indian Hindu community in the UK?

Being a brown Hindu in the Britain of the 60’s and 70’s was one of the toughest upbringings one could have, but one for which I am most grateful. I attended a grammar school in the rural midlands and as one of only four non-white children in an aggressively white Catholic boys school, I learned that words don’t hurt unless you choose to allow them to.  I learned that bullies are weak inside and I learned that often friends can be found in the most unexpected places.

Pt Satish Sharma at the Cenotaph – Remembrance Sunday – In Honour of Indian soldiers who gave their all for our peace and freedom.

My proudest achievement is having been a part of the team which brought British Hindus together to successfully challenge the Evangelist inspired anti Hindu “Caste legislation” initiative which sought to disrupt and “divide and rule” our tranquil and successful British Hindu community. It was an education and we moved closer as a community and found enlightened supporters amongst the wider community as well. The toughest challenge has been to get our community to look up and accept the we now have a Dharmic obligation to share the wisdom of our Dharma with the wider community.  Indians contribute significantly to the UK in all spheres of life and in all sectors of commerce.  We as a community have integrated very well and as such we work for the benefit of the whole nation. In my view the time has now come to become more proactive in the political arena.

3. Who/What inspires you?

Dr Subramanian Swamy for his courage and adherence to Dharma, come what may, and also Shri Rajiv Malhotraji’s insistence on clarity of thought and expression in service of Dharma is awesome. It’s impossible to deny PM Modiji for his humility and ability to execute dramatic and hugely positive change in such a short time period. The life of Nelson Mandela as an ardent student of the Bhagavad Gita and his journey from being called a ‘terrorist’ to becoming an international ‘statesman’ should be compulsory study for every student. And of course, there’s Guru Dutt for his heart-rending incomparable poetry.

Dr Subramanian Swamy with Pt S Sharma.

4. What has been the biggest obstacle in your professional and/or community life?

The English and Irish people I have become close to are some of the best people I know but being a British Hindu is still the greatest challenge, especially if you have any knowledge of Colonial History. It’s becoming universally accepted that the Aryan Invasion Theory was a Colonialist construct, that the infamous Caste system which was well established and prevalent in Europe, was also a British imposition upon India and increasingly the extent of British atrocities in India is becoming widely known.  Many are now demanding that Colonial History should be taught in British schools to ensure that our new generations grown up knowing of the rights and wrongs of the past, and to know that such behaviour in the future should be unacceptable to any civilised nation.

Despite Hindus and Indians having made the pivotal contribution to the British War efforts, British Institutions concealed this from the world, and from their own population, for almost a century until British Hindus began to demand acknowledgement. There is still also no mention as yet of how the British Government reneged on its war debt to India which was in the billions of dollars, so yes being a British Hindu is a daily challenge, especially when it comes to engaging with British institutions. The British institutional identity is still subliminally rooted in the perspectives which led to the colonial devastation of the 18th and 19th century whereas the Hindu identity has for thousands of years been rooted in the obligation to serve all of life, so being a British Hindu is a balancing of two polar opposites and an unceasing spiritual saadhana.

Professionally it’s now much better with today’s British Hindus being recognised for their contribution in most spheres, but this was not the case until recently. I recall applying for jobs in the 80’s and 90’s as a well-qualified finance graduate and getting zero interviews.  To my amusement and shock, an English friend suggested replacing the name Satish with Simon, and guess what, within a month I had several interviews and also secured my first employed position.  The battles for recognition and acceptance which my parents had to win however were on a different scale.  We are so much in their debt and I salute them at every opportunity.

 

5. Who has been the biggest influence in your career to date?

My Father rose to heights in a post-independence Rashtrapati Bhavan, working at a personal level with the early presidents of India but when he decided to build a life in Britain, the only role he was permitted to have was as a Bus Conductor. In the Britain of the 60’s it was an accepted truism that the Indian brain was incapable of controlling a bus at speeds in excess of 30 mph and it took several decades of effort to disprove this. In this environment he rose through the ranks to be a Bus inspector whilst building a portfolio of rental properties and educating his children to aspire to and attain Oxford and Cambridge education. His and my mother’s world view, which I realised was deeply Dharmic, of a shared divinity, which in some people is occluded by avidya, is what sustained them and which they instilled within us, was their greatest gift to me and it has been the moral compass which still inspires me in my daily life professionally and personally.

From a philosophical perspective, the words of Ashtavakra and Vasishta rub shoulders amicably with those of Burke and Paine, of Voltaire and of Thoreau and I refer to them on a daily basis. They are a fountain of nourishment and a source of never-ending delight and unquenchable humour.

Shri Rajiv Malhotraji in enlightening discussions with Pt S Sharma

6. What would you like to achieve before GE2020?

I do not believe that Britain can survive in a post Brexit world without facing its colonial demons with courage and with honesty.  Germany gracefully “owned” its holocaust, accepted responsibility for the genocide in which it played a part and having atoned and made reparation, has been able to move forward with confidence as a leading member of the community of nations. In contrast Great Britain has so far evaded and avoided accepting its part in its colonial past, seeking to conceal, or even bullishly deny its role in multiple holocausts in many corners of the globe. This will be the “elephant in the room” at every summit and boardroom in a post Brexit world and it’s time for this shadow to be faced. India, and especially Hindus, bore the brunt of British supremacist initiatives and colonialist escapades and British Hindus are ideally placed to assist Britain to understand and come to terms with the impact of its past choices and their influence which is being felt even today.

I would like to see British Hindus fully engaged in the religious life of Europe and also the political life of Europe from a purely Dharmic perspective and as partners working to achieve global prosperity and tranquillity, not as the occasionally inconvenient but peripherally spicy item of exotica in the European political and religious landscape.

The last few decades have seen Britain make strides in its assimilation of Human rights principles, more so than in many EU countries which are seeing a very real resurgence of racist far right political power. Once it has come to terms with its colonial karma, Britain and the British people will be able to cut loose from this imperialist ball and chain, and then we would see a true world power appear and take a leading role in a more balanced west east dynamic.

7. If you were Prime Minister of the UK, what one policy would you like to implement?

I would exclude all “religious” teaching from statutory education or until the age of 18. It is irrational, promotes unreasonable “truth claims”, creates cognitive dissonance in the young and prevents the otherwise tranquil and cohesive communities from naturally and organically integrating as citizens of the country and the world.

8. If you were Prime Minister of India, what one policy would you like to implement?

I would immediately implement the UN DRIP Declaration thereby prohibiting religious conversion which is destructive of spiritual diversity and community cohesion and insist on authentic secular equality founded upon a uniform civil code. This would automatically see the problems in Kashmir become solvable, would see the inequitable and anti-merit Reservations Policy terminated, and would finally end the act of foreign state sponsored subversion otherwise known as conversion.  As Gandhiji said, “Conversion is the greatest impediment to global peace” and is an act of communal violence perpetrated upon the most vulnerable and innocent people.

9. Your faith is very important to you; can you tell us how it has helped you in your life?

I am not infected by “faith”, the concept is alien and irrational from a Dharmic perspective which is why ‘faith’ has never led to tranquility and harmony for the last 1500 years. Dharma on the other hand is everything and the evidence of Dharma being key to human prosperity, harmony and ebullient living is visible in every Hindu community throughout the diaspora. It’s because of the Dharmic vision that we prosper, that we live in harmony, that we carry spirituality and ebullience wherever we settle.

10. If you were marooned on a desert island, whichever historical figure would you like to spend your time with, and why?

That’s an easy one but being Punjabi, if one historical figure is offered I’m obliged to press for two. If they were contemporary figures, I’ve already mentioned Dr Swamy and Shri Rajiv Malhotra for their courage integrity and creativity.  But if it was a requirement that my selection be historical then I think I’d most love to have Mohandas Gandhi and NathuRam Godse on an island with me.  Another interesting and colourful person could be Boris Johnson and the prospect of understanding him appeals as much as the challenge of teaching him meditation on a desert island does.  The time would just fly by! Given the choice of only one, then it would have to be the Sri Krishna incarnation of this age, Shri Shyam Charan Lahiri of Varanasi who is a daily inspiration.

I am sure all our readers would conclude rightly, that in Pt Satish Sharmaji we have a British Indian, of Hindu ancestry, who traverses the narrow line of balancing his heritage with the opportunities offered in Britain. He has represented the community in Parliament, at the Cenotaph in remembering the sacrifices of Indian soldiers during the WW2, stood with the Kashmiri Pandits in their time of need, challenged the establishment to think outside of the box, and yes, even challenged my very thinking of what it is to be a Hindu in the 21^st Century.  For me at least I came away feeling that maybe in Pt Sharma I have seen an entity that is truly deserving of the highest honours that can afforded by both Britain as well as India.  Notwithstanding that, I am pleased to note that Swami Omkaranandaji, President of the Dharma Rakshana Samiti, has already bestowed the award of Dharma Rakshak to Pt Satish Sharmaji. I am sure many more will follow soon.

 

KK: I trust you found my ‘Konversation’ with Pt. Satish Sharmaji interesting.  Watch this space as I bring many more interesting personalities to you over the coming months.  Do remember, you can also follow me on twitter, though you might need to have a robust constitution since I don’t mix my words and can be rather blunt on occasions.

Labour: Anti Modi & Anti India ?

Kapil’s Khichadi

Follow me on Twitter: @kk_OEG

Whilst you and I, and a billion other people around the world rejoiced the historic visit of Prime Minister Shri Modiji to the UK, a more sinister and troubling underbelly of the Labour Party was exposed for all to see.

Readers will be aware that well before the general elections I had exposed Labour and its anti-Modi, anti-India and even anti-Hindu stance.   At that time Jeremy Corbyn was an unknown, but I had shown to you that he was very much comfortable with the extremist in society.  He was very friendly with the Pakistani mobs, the Pakistani Kashmiri Separatist and extremist organisations such as ‘Avaaz’.

Many of you heeded my observations and you took that monumental step not to vote for Labour.  You made the right call and I trust you will see increasingly how right you were not to trust Labour.

So what has got me upset sufficiently that I have resurrected Kapil’s Khichadi?  For me the matter has and will always be simple.  If any politician or political party threatens the stability and future prospects of our community, or attempts to undermine our Dharma – then they have to be exposed.  Full Stop.  I know there are many very powerful people from within our community who are staunch supporters of Labour.  In fact they tried everything to high-jack PM Modiji’s visit to make it a Labour event.  Instead it became their biggest disaster imaginable.  PM Cameron took centre stage with PM Modiji – you could see the shock and horror on the faces of the Labour slaves.  This was their worst nightmare unfolding in front of their eyes.  On one side PM Modi the leading political leader of our time that Labour is against, and on the other side their local nemesis, PM Cameron. Oh what a show they put on of great unity between our two great nations.  That’s one in the eye to these Labour lackeys.

Their leader, Jeremy Corbyn failed to turn up to every single event in which PM Modiji was taking part or was being honoured.  This includes ALL formal national events in Parliament, as well as those honouring our heroes such as Mahatma Gandhiji and our cultural heritage.

Jeremy Corbyn showed total disrespect for India, the Indian PM and every Indian in the world.  In order for Jeremy to appease to his Muslim Pakistani vote bank, he undermined the future prospects of the whole of the United Kingdom.  Tens of thousands of jobs are dependent on Indian companies and Indian investment into the UK. And the potential to increase this significantly over the coming decade has severely been compromised by a Party Leader who cares less about his country, less about the traditions of his country and even less about its people.  This is the man who is willing to compromise the security of our nation so he can remain buddies with some of his extremist friends here in the UK as well as abroad.

I am still waiting for leading MPs of Indian origin from the Labour Party to openly and without reservation denounce their leader for his disgraceful behaviour.  I will not accept any half-baked weasel words.  I want to see them come out and attack this incompetent Labour leader with utter bluntness.  After all it was their leader who elected to disrespect the largest democracy in the world in such an open manner.

PM Modi came to the UK with a mandate that was greater than all Prime Ministers and Presidents of the EU countries put together.  A fact that Jeremy Corbyn and his ilk just could not stomach or comprehend.

The Labour Party has gone Sharia.  I had warned AV readers and the nation of this several years ago.  The Labour Party is now led by a group of dim wits with half-baked ideas about governance.  They will readily appease the dictators and the extremists in the Middle East, South America or even some closer to home.  Ludicrous as it may sound, but it seems Jeremy Corbyn wanted to capture ‘Jihadi John’ than to obliterate that excuse of a human being to kingdom come.  Now it seems he is unsure whether we should allow our security forces to shoot terrorist on sight. Incredible as that might sound, but this man actually thinks we should allow mad terrorist the right to go about their business and tie the hands of our security forces at the same time.  Can his madness get any worse?  Do you really want to jeopardise the nation’s future to find out?

So what is the message for you the readers?  For you the Indian Diaspora?  Well my friends it is simple, there comes a time when we all have to make that call for truth and justice.  For being on the right side of Dharma and on the right side of history.  Either you can remain deluded and blind to what is unfolding in front of your eyes, or you can take note and make changes to your voting behaviour.

The Labour Party is dead.  It is now in the hands of extremists who are against you.  They have shown this very clearly.  There is now no doubt since their behaviour during PM Modiji visit showed us what they are, a bunch of left-wing nutters indulging in their prejudices.

The London Mayoral elections will be with us soon.  I hope you exercise your civic right and vote for the right person and party.  Just in case there still remain a few deluded souls out there, yes Labours’ Sadiq Khan also ignored PM Modiji!

In Kapil’s Khichadi I don’t sit on the fence or try to be ‘politically correct’.  Frankly I don’t have time or patience for such rubbish.  It is now time for our community, our media and yes, our politicians to recognise what is happening and see the bigger picture.  If we don’t get our act together, believe me there will be no future left for the generations to come.  Don’t let your future generations judge you by your inaction today.  It is time to recognise your duty.  Your duty to the nation, your duty to your community, your duty to your dharma and yes, your duty to the legacy you leave behind.

When PM Modiji referred to PM Cameron as his brother, I understood the clear message he was giving to all of us.  I get it, do you?  PM Modiji’s visit will be remembered for this:

 

 

Wake up oh sons and daughters of Bharat Varsh. History demands of you, your sacrifice and service for the protection of the nation.

Cameron Destroys Opposition

Kapil’s Khichadi

Follow me on Twitter: @kdudakia

Cameron Destroys Opposition

The last time we had such a major upset in any national elections was when everyone thought Neil Kinnock was going to be crowned King in 1992.  I remember the hysteria at the time when in presidential style Kinnock toured the country, verging on celebrating a victory even before the first vote had been cast.  Well history repeats itself but in a slightly different incarnation.  Every single pollster was predicting a hung parliament with many permutations for a potential coalition government.  However within minutes of the polls closing at 10 pm on 7^th May, I received a special call telling me the Conservatives had won and that I might want to go to bed rather than stay awake waiting for each result to come through.  I of course stayed awake since I wanted to gauge what commentators and politicians would make of this incredible news.  Commentator after commentator dismissed the exit polls stating that the multiple polls in the run up could not all be wrong.  There was logic to their argument except for their understanding of the human psyche.  I had been saying to a lot of people that all the commentators had missed three crucial factors.  First that there were many Tory voters who were shy about disclosing their allegiance.  The second, that the moment before putting that cross on the ballot paper many voters will take a deep breath and say, ‘I can’t trust Labour’.  And therein we have the answer to why this became one of the most thrilling elections of the modern era.  There is a third reason also, one that has been missed by many in the media, that being the way in which Lynton Crosby and his team targeted specific seats and turned so many of them to blue.  They blindsided Labour with extraordinary finesse.   Of course the chant of ‘vote Labour and get SNP’ had an impact also.

Labour Party:

The problem for Labour started when they elected Ed Miliband as their leader. They knew it, and so did the general public.  In the years he was in charge, Labour went from one crisis to another.  Every time they got close to assuring the public that they understood finances, one of the two Ed’s would put their foot in it and destroy their credibility.  Forgetting to mention the deficit in one of his major speeches was not just a lapse, it was confirmation that when it came to the big issues, Ed’s radar was not working.  When as leader you attempt to divide and rule by coining the phrase, ‘predator and producer’, it took Labour back to its bad old days.  When you then add to this mixture the power of the Unions within Labour, it all got just too much for Joe Public.

Ed and his front bench made the biggest mistake in thinking that old Labour was still relevant to the future of this nation.  Vacating the middle ground that Tony Blair high-jacked from the Tories and the Liberal Democrats was a monumental error of judgement.  Labour went in this election not with a wish to win on merit, or on policies or on a vision for the country – it was on a 35% core vote strategy.  And what happened to that?  He barely managed to cross the 30% threshold.

Will Labour learn the lessons?  There is no evidence to suggest that either they get the message, or they have anyone in their ranks like a ‘Tony Blair’ who can command not only loyalty, but also put forward a groundbreaking vision of what Labour needs to look like for the 21^st Century.  They face difficulties in selecting their next leader.  Whilst the rules for selection have changed, in my view I am not sure they will curtail the power of the Unions.  Chukha Umana comes across as a decent chap hovering around the centre ground, the very space Labour needs to command if they are to govern again.  However even before he got started, he chucked in the towel and withdrew from the leadership contest.  I don’t buy into the excuses he is giving and get the feeling there is a lot more to come out, watch this space.

The Labour Party is in a bad way.  Until they find their soul, their purpose in the 21^st Century, they may hark to the bad old days of the 70’s and Michael Foot.  Should that happen then one cannot see how Labour will come back to power for at least a decade, and maybe even longer.

The Conservatives

The Conservatives ran their narrative from 2010 onwards.  They decided on the agenda for the 2015 election and whilst everyone was chasing shadows, David Cameron and Lynton Crosby remained relatively calm.  They knew that when it came to putting that cross on the ballot paper people will get nervous about Labour and there should be a last minute surge to them.  However as days went by the surge did not take place.  Poll after poll declared a close run election.  However I can disclose to you now that I was informed by a key person in the Tory ranks some two weeks before the election that they would win with a majority.  Everyone had underestimated the fact that the shy Tory would emerge on the day, and that many others would change allegiance as they realise Labour was not the answer.  Add to that the specific targeting of certain seats and you end up with 37%.  The number the Tories had been working on right from the start.

Whilst the Tory majority is only 12, the impact of the win on Labour is not too dissimilar to what Tony Blair inflicted on the Tories in 1997.  This win has ripped the heart out of Labour leaving it in total disarray.  It has enhanced David Cameron’s position significantly.  After all he can claim he won the election and produced the first Tory majority government since the 1990’s.

For my part I am glad about the result since a Tory government under the stewardship of David Cameron is rooted to the centre, is pro-India and pro-dharmic communities.  The Tories may yet become the party of the people as long as they stay in the centre and allow the aspirations of people to be realised.

Make it count – Vote

Kapil’s Khichadi

Follow me on Twitter: @kdudakia

Make it count -Vote

The time has come when each and every citizen must do their duty and ensure they take the time to consider what’s on offer and then go and cast their vote for the party of their choice.  By so doing we empower our society and our democracy.  The strength of our democracy rests in our interaction with due process – and that is the deal we sign up to when we wish to be part of society.  So don’t forget or come up with excuses, do your duty to yourself and to your country.

We have seen an incredible week when PM Cameron has come out fighting and responding to the challenges he faces to retain his government.  In what has become one of the key moments of the campaign, Cameron visited BAPS Neasden Mandir where he got one of the most stunning welcomes possible.  People in the audience confirmed what became an endorsing event to celebrate a Prime Minister who had done so much for India, for PM Modiji, for Hindus in this country and in declaring that his government will seek to ensure India becomes a permanent member of the United Nations.  In fact I have checked and as far as I can make out, no party in the history of British elections has ever put that as one of their manifesto commitments.

No sooner was that news coming hot off the press and I received an open letter from the National Council of Hindu Temples (NCHT) which is one of the most prominent national Hindu Temple organisations in the UK.  The open letter was very articulate and you can all read it fully at the end of this blog.   In essence the Secretary General, Shri Satish Sharma is asking all Dharmic communities to engage with the election process.  He rightly reminds us of the words of Lord Krishna that in any civil society it is our duty to stand up for righteousness.  And as such, taking part in an election is to contribute to civil society and its well being.  That is our dharmic duty.  The open letter reminds us of how the Labour Party imposed the caste legislation that potentially will  not only be harmful to us, but may well undermine the very fabric of our community.

I am also pleased to note that the Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) has also released an open statement which is on very similar lines to the one from the NCHT.  Smt Trupti Patel (President of HFB) statement reminds us of our duty to nation by taking part in the election process.  She also reminds us of important issues such as the caste legislation as well as Kashmir, and the relative positions of the various parties.  HFB also concurs with the NCHT conclusions that the Conservative party has been a friend of the Hindu community during these testing times.

Dharmic communities should always take note of all parties and the impact of their policies.  When any one of their policies is so specific as to undermine and damage our dharma, we must make that the centre piece of our decision making.  The generations to come will not forgive anyone who allows politicians to get away with it, especially when there are matters that directly impact and affect our dharmic traditions.

When we published the very first British Hindu Manifesto in Asian Voice, we did so to put issues of substance up for public debate and scrutiny.  By so doing Asian Voice through Kapil’s Khichadi became the very conduit that allowed all our national organisations to come together and launch their own Hindu manifesto.  In one go organisations such as, HFB, NCHT, BBHS, HLA, CHN, BHC, SSCT, HC (North) and many more came together for the well being of the community.

We have seen the Jewish community who are very proactive and the most successful when it comes to British politics.  For a community of some 450000 people it has in excess of 70 MPs in Parliament.  When it comes to the Jewish issues, what we observe is how quickly they all come together and face the challenges as one.  For them protecting their faith, their community and the integrity of Israel is always of the highest priority.

As Hindus we also need to learn lessons from our Jewish friends.  Ours is a community of some 850000 people yet we have less than 10 MPs in Parliament.  Post the 2015 elections there is a strong chance that maybe we can break the 10 MP ceiling.  However should we not expect and aspire to have say 50 plus MPs over the coming decade or so?  The only way we can achieve this is with our proactive engagement and in making sure that we support people from our community who will put us first, and not forget us when the going gets tough.

In India we saw PM Modiji take the positive message of Hindu values to the voters.  In a country that has been split on every fault line imaginable to mankind, he succeeded in getting his message across and winning a massive majority.  He proved that you can be a strong Hindu, with positive values and become instrumental in constructive politics that benefits the masses.  PM Modiji is destined to visit the UK this summer.  Let us as a community stand tall and proud and show him that yes, even in the UK, we as a community are making an impact that is bigger than our socio/economic footprint.

GE2015 will be with us shortly.  So take it seriously. Do your research and make an informed decision.

The following articles/statements from leading Hindus and Sikh Organisation are helpful in considering relevant information before casting your vote:

And this is from the National Hindu Students Forum: http://www.nhsf.org.uk/2015/05/hindu_voice/

Hindus & Sikhs Unite

Kapil’s Khichadi

Follow me on Twitter: @kdudakia

Hindus & Sikhs Unite

The last few weeks have been remarkable and we are witnessing the emergence of a new forward looking consensus between two great Dharmic communities of modern times.  In his recent visit to the UK Dr Subramanian Swamy, one of the most high profile Indian politicians and a champion for anti-corruption opened the doors for even better cooperation between these two great communities.  Dr Swamy became the very first Indian politician to set foot in a Gurdwara in the UK since the sad events of 1984 that took place under the then Congress government in India. On Saturday 18th April 2015 a very special gathering took place at Gurdwara Har Rai Sahib ji in West Bromwich where the leading lights of the Sikh community came together to discuss the General Election and the issues affecting both these communities.  High profile speakers included:  Sarpanch Harjeet Singhji, Shri Satish Sharma (NCHT), Dr Praveen Kumar (VHP) and Sardar Jasdev Singh Rai (BSCF). Many organisations attended including:  Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara – Southall, Sri Hargobind Sahib Gurudwara – Tividale, Sri Gurur Amardas Gurdwara – Leicester, NCHTUK, Sri Krishna Mandir – Wolverhampton, Sri Omkarananda Mission – Wolverhampton, Mata Mandir – Dudley, Slough Sri Krishna Temple and British Sikh Consultative Forum. In a dramatic climax to the proceeding the gathering passed a unanimous resolution as follows: STANDING COALITION OF SIKHS, HINDUS AND JAINS UK We find the inclusion of the term “caste” as a protected category in the 2010 Equalities Act, and subsequently in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, to be totally unacceptable and demand that its inclusion be repealed in its entirety within the first two years of the next Parliamentary Term. The legislation, by way of the Lord Harries Caste Amendment, was introduced on the basis of poor research and the associated report was dismissed as unreliable in Parliament.  The report authors have also confirmed that its primary purpose was not to instigate any legislation, and in fact goes onto to repeat that given the variance of evidence, that a more substantial piece of research is required before any views can be formed.  When has an Act of Parliament, except in national security issues, been passed without knowing what the Act is about (definition) and whether the need exists?  Furthermore there has been no impact assessment of this legislation on business, the communities concerned and the very fabric of British society. We find this an extraordinary state of affairs, a glaring abuse of Parliamentary privilege and a breach of trust that citizens rightly place in the legislative process.  It has brought Parliament into disrepute.  We require that each party leader and their political party give the following undertakings:

1. The legislation on caste in its entirety be repealed within the first two years of the next Parliamentary Term.
2. Genuine independent research should be conducted on a longitudinal basis.
3. Full detailed impact assessments should be carried out: business sector, concerned communities, society in general and the service sector.

The ramifications of the resolution are very clear.  Every major political party that wants Hindu and Sikh votes will have to give their confirmation that the disgraceful and treacherous legislation on Caste is repealed in its entirety during the next Parliamentary term.  The clear evidence so far is that both Labour and the Liberal Democrats have refused to accept this and will therefore ignore the wishes of the Sikh and Hindu communities.  In contrast the Conservative Party has confirmed that if they have a clear majority after the elections, they will repeal the entire caste legislation.  This is bound to impact the way our communities vote since protecting our Dharma from denigration and disrespect must always come first.

British Hindu Manifesto:

In another dramatic development it seems the Hindu Manifesto first published in Asian Voice in Kapil’s Khichadi has become the foundation for the unveiling of the full blown British Hindu Manifesto (BHM).  The BHM was led by the Hindu Forum of Britain in partnership with the National Council of Hindu Temples.  Other major leading organisations also joined in to lend their support including Hindu Lawyers Association, City Hindu Network, Birmingham Hindu Council, Hindu Council of the North and the Sahajanand Swami Charitable Trust.  What is interesting to note is that the very first item on the BHM is to demand that the caste legislation is repealed in its entirety.

Dharma Rakshak Award:

On a lighter note, but one that is dear to me, I was conferred the ‘Dharma Rakshak’ award by Dr S Swamy during his recent visit to the UK.  I am most grateful to the NCHT and the BBHS for having confidence to grant me this award.  I understand it is for my work in the media.  I accept the award in the spirit it has been given and I hope that I may continue to live up to these high standards in my column. Photo: Dr Subramanian Swamy with Kapil Dudakia (AV)

Below you will find all the statements made by leading Hindus and Sikh organisations:

 

I’ll Be Voting Conservative

Kapil’s Khichadi

Follow me on Twitter: @kdudakia

It’s time to come off the fence and nail one’s colours to the mast.  Readers will know that over the past 5 years I have scrutinised all political parties, their leaders and their policies.  Now with fewer than 20 days to the election it is time that people like me who wish to say so much, also have the strength of our convictions to come forward and tell everyone where we stand.  So today let me make it clear – in GE2015 I will be voting for the Conservative Party.  And my reasons are:

I am a British Hindu of Indian origin.  I came to the UK in 1968 when I was barely 9 years old.  As I was growing up all I saw were the masses of Indians all voting for the Labour Party.  When I got the vote even I followed the set process and voted for the Labour Party.  And dare I say this pattern has continued election after election, generation after generation, with very little inward or outward inquiry.  I however began to question everything during the Blair years and whilst he did some good, I was not sure about his motivation.  With Brown and Miliband taking over Labour leadership it brought a number of issues into even sharper focus.

I witnessed a Labour government introduce a Machiavellian diplomatic ban on Shri Narendra Modi in 2002.  Brown and Miliband did nothing about this diplomatic ban since they were part of the whole fiasco.  The ban was not justified under any international law, it seemed Labour wanted to help their Congress friends in India.

When Ed Miliband took over having stabbed his brother in back, something told me that one should be careful in placing any trust in this new leader of the labour Party.  My hesitation came true since it was the Labour Party that supported and orchestrated the ‘caste’ legislation treachery.  They stabbed the Hindu (Dharmic) community in the back and went against the wishes of all our organisations.

In early 2014 we witnessed Labour MPs working in tandem with some extremist organisations to hold Anti-Modi events at the House of Commons.  These events also came across as Anti-Hindu.  Readers will remember I wrote an open letter to Ed Miliband to come clean and tell us exactly where he stood.  He has had several years to denounce these Labour rogues but we find he has run away from my questions.

Readers will also be aware that Anish Kapoor came on BBC Newsnight and called Shri Narendra Modi a mass murderer.  He did so just before the Indian elections, the implication being very clear for all to see.  Ed Miliband, as far as I know, has not denounced this preposterous allegation made by one of Labour’s top donors.  Yes that’s right, Anish Kapoor happens to be a high profile donor to the Labour Party.

We have seen atrocities being committed by men of Pakistani heritage in towns and cities controlled by Labour politicians.  Is that all a coincidence?  Or have they been negligent in their duty of care by protecting their vote bank?  No matter what, but thousands of young girls were abused systematically, and I fear we have not heard the last of this story.

When it comes to Kashmir the Tory policy is clear, it’s a matter for India and the British government will not get involved.  However with Labour they give you a different story depending on who you talk to.  Shadow Minister Shabana Mahmood on 23/11/2014 said, “We will jointly struggle for giving Kashmiris a chance to exercise their internationally recognized right of self-determination with the party”, adding, “We hope in upcoming general election there would be a good number of Friends of Kashmir Parliamentarians in British Parliament who can effectively support Kashmir cause”.  So it seems the Labour Policy on Kashmir is for self-determination, pro-Pakistan and in interfering in the internal business of a sovereign nation.  If partition was not enough, they now want to break India up further it seems.

There is a lot more that I can go through, however based on the above it became very clear; the Labour Party of the 21^st Century does not speak for us Indians and Hindus.  How on earth can a political party ever look after my interest when they bow to the Pakistani Kashmiri vote bank?  How on earth can Labour ever protect my interest when their MPs attack PM Modiji and therefore undermine India?

I was a card carrying member of the Labour Party.  Yes you read that correctly. However, I am no longer!  The Labour Party has gone too far to the left and it seems they’ll do anything.  It’s all about seats and vote bank politics in which ethics comes a poor second.

The Conservatives have listened, they have changed, and they have supported us on the caste issue, on Kashmir, on PM Modiji, on faith schools and on a host of other issues.  Don’t be too surprised to find that after the next election we have more Hindus and more Gujarati MPs in the Conservative Party than any other Party.  That is what I call a wholesale transformation.  What has Labour to show after five decades of getting our votes? For example, even in areas with very high concentrations of Gujarati’s, they have not managed to put forward a single Gujarati to be their MP.  Is that by chance?  Or is it by design? It really is time to wake up and understand that politics in the 21^st Century is different, and we must change with it.

I have picked my side.  I will vote for the Tories.  A vote that I hope will protect the generations to come from our community.  What will you do on 7^th May?

Cowardice at Oxford University?

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It will go down in history as one of the most shocking and cowardly decisions ever taken by the Oxford India Society (of Oxford University).

On the very day (23^rd March) the whole of India and the Indian Diaspora remembered the sacrifices of our martyrs Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Hari Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar – news came to me that the Oxford India Society (OIS) had decided to cancel an event titled ‘Contrarian’ that was to take place on 3^rd April 2015.  It was to host international speakers Dr Subramanium Swamy and Shri Rajiv Malhotra.  The news came as a shock to the British Board of Hindu Scholars and Satish Sharma their Chairman who commented, ‘We are stunned that a leading British University that should be championing free speech and freedom of thought, has taken such a cowardly decision.  We cannot allow the appeasement of extremists to stifle cherished values and I fear this decision will reflect very badly on Oxford University and their much publicised “free rigorous thinking” credentials’.

Shri Satish Sharma Chairman of BBHS and Secretary General of NCHT

It seems one of our leading universities has fallen foul to either trying to be politically correct, exercising political appeasement or downright lack of respect for freedom of speech.  Whatever their true motives, what is clear is that an event that was scheduled to take place at Oxford University, was cancelled after what appears to be cowardice by members of the Oxford India Society, and also by the University itself.  I wrote to ALL members of the OIS asking them for their perspective and it seems they have gone all shy on me.  So let me tell you who these people are who are part of the OIS.  They are:  Anjul Khadria President, Dhruti Babariya Secretary, Niharika Gurram Treasurer and committee members Arghya Modak, Nikhil Nair, Pranoy Raul, Shifali Shishodia, Mandvi Dogra,  Arvind Jain, Madhav Kumar, Sounak Sahu, Varshita Sher, Ritesh Tibrewal, Devendra Meena, Vishal Maingi and Ashish Thandavan.  These Indians from India have shown their remarkable capacity to succumb to pressure.

Martyrs like Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Hari Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar gave up their lives in their youth so future generations could experience freedom.  It seems their sacrifices and those of millions of other Indians mean so little to members of the OIS.  People will conclude that they have betrayed their country to appease their new colonial masters at Oxford University.  It seems for some Indians they might be enjoying freedom, but they remain slaves in all other aspects.

Only a few weeks ago we had the unveiling of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square.  The Prime Minister of Great Britain and the Foreign Secretary of India did the unveiling no less.  I am reminded of what Mahatma Gandhi said, “Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth, for being correct, for being you. Never apologise for being correct, or for being years ahead of your time. If you’re right and you know it, speak your mind. Speak your mind. Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth”.

On closer inspection it seems that Oxford University are very happy to give access to speakers such as Marine Le Pen (Head of French National Front), Wendy Doniger (a writer considered by many to be anti-Hindu), Tony Blair of WMD fame, Gerry Adams of the IRA, David Irving a Holocaust denier and Dr Zakir Naik an extremist Muslim preacher.

The executive committee of OIS should hang their heads in shame.  Dr Subramanium Swamy is a recognised public champion fighting for justice for the ordinary folks.  He puts himself in harm’s way by taking on the most powerful in the country and outing them for their corrupt practices.  It is beyond belief that his own country folk on the OIS have let him and the nation down so badly.

Freedom of speech is often championed by leading educational institutions.  They often cite the ‘Human Rights Act’ when they challenge Government restrictions on free speech.  It is therefore shocking that we witness such overt irrational decision making when it comes to a leading Hindu thinker and speaker.  Sometimes one wonders if free speech is the reserve of those who exercise extremism.

So I say to each and every member of the executive of the OIS.  You have proven yourself to be unfit to be considered as an Indian from India.  Your decision has shown the highest level of disrespect to both your nation and your rich cultural heritage.  Your actions come across as cowardly, and one can only wonder what your family and friends will think of you back home?

Fortunately the British Board of Hindu Scholars and the National Council of Hindu Temples will continue with their programme of events around the country.  So we will all still have that great opportunity to listen to Dr Swamy and to interact in the question answer sessions.  If you want to attend, don’t waste your time.  Book your tickets now.

Those interested in attending note the following:

http://www.nchtuk.org/index.php/register-for-bbhs-dharma-rising-conference

DHARMA RISING – W MIDS: 4th April 2015

An Audience with Dr S Swamy, Shri Rajiv Malhotra & HG Jagannath Priya Dasji

4.30pm registration for 5.00pm start

Sant Nirankari Hall, Wednesbury

DHARMA RISING – LONDON: 5th April 2015

All Day Conference, Hindu “Question Time” & “Dharma Rakshak” Awards & VIP Dinner

Registration 12.30 for 1.00pm start

Dhamecha Lohana Hall, Harrow

DHARMA RISING – SLOUGH: 6th April 2015

An Audience with Shri Rajiv Malhotra & HG Jagannath Priya Dasji

4pm onwards

Slough Cultural Society

Statement by Shri Rajiv Malhotra:

“Oxford has regarded itself as a bastion of intellectual freedom, and it would be a blot on its image to block free speech just because some individuals feel that free speech works only in one direction.

The allegations made in their petition against me are utterly ridiculous and false; in fact, the book of mine they cite does not have any bearing on Wendy Doniger or reference to her, and yet they claim it has somehow harmed her. These individuals seem to be over-opinionated but under-informed.

I thrive on debating opponents and have numerous Youtube videos of such debates. I would welcome debating an opponent in Oxford, in a fair and neutrally moderated forum, with our cameras streaming it for viewers worldwide. If my opponents are clever, they should take me up on my offer to debate.”

GE2015 – The Mathematics

Kapil’s Khichadi

Follow me on Twitter: @kdudakia

GE2015 – The Mathematics

With less than eight weeks to the General Election, the polls from almost all polling organisations are showing that we are heading towards an unprecedented election.  Under any other circumstance it would be as thrilling as entering a fairground ride of monumental proportions with screams and danger lurking at each and every turn.  This ride will take millions on a journey that may well define how the UK is set for the 21^st century.  The significance of the decision by the people of Great Britain cannot be underestimated.  And those who delude themselves into thinking it’s just another election may well do disservice to the generations to come.

The latest poll of polls gives us the following:  Conservatives 33%, Labour 32%, Liberal Democrats 7%, UKIP 15% and Green 6%.  How might this translate to actual seats?  Now this is a dangerous game, especially given we have two new phenomena that has destroyed the foundations of traditional analysis.  Yes, I am talking about the UKIP and SNP effect.  So based on current polls one might predict seat distribution to be: Conservatives 281, Labour 264, Liberal Democrats 24, UKIP 3 and Green 1.  And therein we have the making of political Khichadi like none other.

This is where you and I come in.  After five decades plus in this country (in reasonably large numbers) our community can actually make a difference.  A few percentage points is all that it will take to change the mathematics.  The minority ethnic communities have never been in such a powerful position before, and the political parties know it.  So before you decide (as opposed to voting blindly as usual) think about the following.

The Labour Party was in power for some 13 years.  Ask yourself the questions, ‘how many Gujarati MPs did they manage to secure?’  The answer is none of course.  So after decades of getting our votes, the Labour Party with all its bravado did nothing to get even one Gujarati MP in parliament.  That tells you everything you need to know.  I hear you ask, but what about the Tories?  Well it turns out that in less than a decade since enlightenment dawned to them about the importance of minority ethnic votes, the Tories have already got two Gujarati MP’s (Sailesh Vara and Priti Patel), both holding important positions within the Government.  So in my view rhetoric and platitude don’t count for much, my interest is totally in outcomes and far as I can make out, the Conservatives have overtaken the Labour Party when it comes to representing our community in parliament.

What else do you need to know?  Well some of you will recall that during early 2014 (just before the Indian elections) we had some Labour MPs in bed with extremist organisations such as ‘Avaaz’, who held several anti-Modi (anti-Hindu) events at the House of Commons. Shortly thereafter we even had a major donor to the Labour Party, Anish Kapoor (the chap responsible for the multi-million pound scaffolding erected for Olympics 2012) come on BBC Newsnight and state that PM Modi was a mass murderer.  To my knowledge (and I have asked many times now) the Leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband has not denounced these activities.  That begs the question, ‘what is the Labour Party playing at?’

Several months ago I wrote a piece titled, ‘Is Labour going Sharia’ ( https://kapilskhichadi.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/is-labour-going-sharia/ ), in which the discussion highlighted a possible Labour strategy of enticing the Pakistani vote bank.  In particular the Pakistani Kashmiri voter.  One may well conclude that if a party is to be so much in bed with one particular ethnic community, then it’s likely that the interests of the Hindu community will be compromised in that process.

UKIP have thrown a curve bowl in British politics.  The rise of ‘National Front’ like organisations across Europe has been startling.  I am therefore not surprised that a milder more palatable version has become so successful in the UK.  UKIP will be lucky to get more than 5 seats, but the votes they take away from the other parties will be damaging to the equation.  Tories may well suffer disproportionately and with that, lose seats by small margins that they might otherwise would have held.

The SNP have taken the whole of Scotland by storm.  Remember Scotland has been a fortress of votes for the Labour Party for decades.  In May 2015 Labour will be lucky to hold onto even 5 seats in Scotland.  The SNP will get close to 50 seats, and that my friends is an earthquake and a tsunami both rolled into one.

What is astonishing is that the Liberal Democrats will plummet to under 10% yet by the quirk of the British electoral system; they might still end up with some 25 seats.  The relationship between the number of votes received and the number of seats gained will be compromised in these elections, leaving the LD’s still in a position to be part of the next Government either with Labour or with the Tories.

The Tories have rejected a coalition with the SNP, and rightly so.  After all how can any political party even think of doing a deal with the SNP when its primary objective is to break up Great Britain?  Interestingly it took Labour a very long time before Ed Miliband was forced to finally follow the Tories and state they would also not work with the SNP.

The Indic vote is important. Politics has changed in this country.  The traditional view of the parties has changed as well, as has their own internal politics.  We must now be guided by what is good for us as a community.  Over the coming decade, which political party is more likely to be in line with our needs and expectations?  Is it the one that is in bed with the Pakistani Kashmiri vote bank?  Or is it the one that has already got two Gujarati MPs leading the charge.  Make your decision wisely.

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