BRITISH INDIAN COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

The Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP

Leader of the Labour Party
House of Commons
London, SW1A 0AA
14th October 2019

Dear Mr Corbyn,
Labour Party & The British Indian Community
We are writing collectively, as British Indian community organisations, to express our deep
dismay that Her Majesty’s Opposition has abandoned a long-standing cross-party position
on Kashmir as a strictly bilateral matter between India and Pakistan, and in doing so, sown
the seeds of community disharmony in the United Kingdom.
The emergency motion passed at the recent Labour Party Conference is not acceptable to
us as it seeks to interfere in the internal matters of, and between, third countries and is drafted
in a one-sided and divisive manner. To quote one of your own shadow cabinet members, the
motion is “ill-informed and partisan.”
We are also hugely concerned about the wider attempts to bring the Kashmir issue into the
domestic politics of the United Kingdom, which has serious ramifications for community
harmony. We have already witnessed the horrendous scenes and arrests outside the Indian
High Commission on 15 August 2019.
At a time when Brexit has already created deep divisions within our country, the last thing we
need is to further divide different communities within the United Kingdom whilst destroying
our diplomatic relations with the world’s largest democracy and long standing, valued
strategic partner.
We are particularly dismayed by the virulent reaction by the Labour Party to the removal of
an outdated, temporary provision that was hindering development of the Indian state of
Jammu and Kashmir, development for people of all religions, of all genders, of all ethnicities.
Progress, human rights, and values which we would have expected the Labour Party to stand
for.
For the avoidance of doubt, our organisations do not take party political positions and include
members of all parties and none. However, in this instance, we feel compelled to highlight
this serious issue. We are consulting with members and community colleagues to reconsider
the level and nature of engagement with Labour Party representatives going forward in the
light of the strident position your Party and you have taken.
We await your urgent response.
Yours sincerely,

Signed jointly by the following British Indian organisations:

 ANKUR (Merseyside)
Anoopam Mission Temple
Asian Foundation for Help
Audichya Gadhia & Kharedi Brahma Samaj
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (UK)
Bhadran Bandhu Samaj (UK)
Brahmin Society North London
British Hindu Voice
Chha Gam Community (CGNM)
City Hindus Network
Coventry and Warwickshire Brahma Samaj
Dharmaj Society of London
Ethnic Minority Foundation (UK)
Europe India Forum
Federation of Patidar Associations
Friends of Kera (UK)
Gita Foundation
Hindu Council North
Hindu Council (UK)
Hindu Cultural Society Bradford
Hindu Forum of Britain
Hindu Panjabi Sabha of Leeds
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (UK)
Hindu Youth Forum Wolverhampton
Hindu Youth Organisation
I.S.S.O. Temples
India Centre UK
India Professionals Forum (IPF)
Indian Association Oldham
Indian Community Centre, Northern Ireland
Indian Metaphysical Society, Bolton
Indian National Students Association (INSA)
Inspiring Indian Women
Institute of Jainlogy
Jain Network
Jain Samaj Manchester
Kalani Sewa
Kannada Sangha North, Manchester
Karunadina Anivasi Hindugal Okkoota (UK)
Kashmiri Pandits Cultural Society
Leeds Pragati Mandal
Lohana Community North London
Lohana Community of United Kingdom
Lohana Community South London
LRK Temple, Warrington
Manchester Desi Group
Milap Group
Nadiad Samaj (UK)
Nar Union (UK)
Naranpur Mitra Mandal (UK)
National Council of Hindu Temples
National Congress of Gujarati Organisations
National Hindu Students Forum (NHSF)
Navnat Vanik Association (UK)
Northwest Marathi Association
OneJain
Parajiya Pattni Association (London)
Peepul Centre Leicester
Posun (UK)
Ram Krishna Bhajan Mandal of Leeds
Ramdevpir Bhajan Mandal
Sale Indian Cultural Society
Sanatan Sewa Mandal (UK)
Sangat Centre
Shree Baladia Leva Patel Sarvodal (UK)
Shree Bavis Gam Patidar Samaj
Shree Bharatiya Mandal (Indian Association
Tameside)
Shree Girnara Soni Samaj (UK)
Shree Godpar Leva Patel Community (UK)
Shree Hindu Community Centre
(Birmingham)
Shree Hindu Temple Charitable Trust
(Leeds)
 Shree Jalaram Mandir (Greenford) Sojitra Samaj (UK)
Shree Jalaram Temple & Community Centre South East Gujarati Association
(Leicester) Surajpur Leva Patel Community (UK)
Shree Kalyan Mandal (Rugby) Surrey Gujarati Hindu Society
Shree Kutch Bharasar Mitra Seva Mandal Swindon Hindu Temple
(UK) The British Indian Community Organization
Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community (UK) The British Sikh Associaion
Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple The Vanza Community of South London
(Kenton) Upton Centre Association
Shree Logan’s Mahayana Ashton-under- Upton Community Association (LBN)
Lyne Vaso Nagrik Mandal (UK)
Shree Naranpar Gaam (UK) VHP Ilford
Shree Prajapati Association (UK) VHP Manchester
Shree Prajapati Association (Birmingham) Vishwa Hindu Kendra
Shree Prajapati Association (Bradford) Vishwa Hindu Parishad (UK)
Shree Prajapati Association (Leicester) Watford Hindu Group
Shree Rajput Sangathan Samaj (Leicester) Wellingborough District Hindu Association
Shree Samatra Leva Patel Community (UK) Young Indian Vegetarians
Shree Sattavis Gam Patidar Samaj
Shree Sorathia Prajapati Community East
London
Shree Swaminarayan Din Dayal Seva Trust
(UK)
Shree Swaminarayan Gurukal (UK)
Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Bhuj
Shree Swaminarayan Sidhant Sajivan
Mandal Kum Kum (UK)
Shree Swaminarayan Sidhant Sajivan
Mandal, Kingsbury
Shree Swaminarayan Temple Cardiff
Shree Swaminarayan Temple Willesden
Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Stanmore
Shri Vallabh Nidhi Temple (UK)
Shrinathdham National Haveli & Community
Centre (UK)
SHYAM
SKS Swaminarayan Temple (East London)