Author:
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: October 23, 2002
The Labour's subtle approval of
the efforts basically by Mirpuri and pro-Pakistan leadership to carve a
Muslim group within the party has caused considerable resentment, not only
among its Indian suppporters, but even quite a few party MPs are also aghast.
At a fringe meeting during Labour'
annual party conference in Blackpool a proposal was mooted by a few Muslim
leaders like Khalid Mahmood, MP from Birmingham, for the formation of a
Muslim for Labour group.
It got an official stamp of encouragement
with the presence of Charles Clarkes, party chairman. He said that there
was need for Labour and the community to be closer. Stephen Timms, MP from
east London and a junior minister was also present.
What was more significant was the
fact that majority of those who attended the meeting were Mirpuris who
have been or have been used to be in the forefront of almost all agitations
over the Kashmir issue.
The apprehension among many MPs
and Indians is that its formation would have an immediate impact on Kashmir
politics and in the long- term affect race relations.
They point out that most spearheading
the proposal are Mirpuris and pro-Pak leaders. They have been feeling frustrated
at the British Government's perception of the Kashmir issue since the Kargil
war and its refusal to support the demand for plebiscite.
Labour had become the first political
party to formally enunciate a Kashmir policy way back in 1995 when a rather
mixed and confusing resolution supporting both the UN Resolution of 1948
for referendum and the Simla Agreement was adopted at its annual conference
at Brighton. But since the last few years the policy has been consigned
to history.
This is why an encouragment for
the formation of group on the basis of religion has astounded observers,
moreso as the leadership would not be oblivious to the fact that its organisers
have been demanding interference in Kashmir by the British government and
are pro-plebiscite and support Pak policy on Kashmir.
But, the proposal for the creation
of such a group was justified at the meeting by a rather facile argument
that there were the likes of women's group and youth wings which have benefited
its members and helped the party to advance their causes.
The political overtone cannot however
be hidden.This appears to be a part of the concerted effort by Labour to
woo Muslims in post September 11 and also in an effort to soothe them over
the possible military offensive against Iraq.
What has made many Indians fear
is that while proposers of the group are mainly from Pakistan, the word
Muslim would give the impression of the group being representative of the
community from all the Muslim countries, particularly the Middle East.
Dr GL Bhan, of the Friends of India
Society International, told Hindustan Times that the seeming support of
Labour for such a group, despite the fact that such things tend to boost
fundamentalism, is largely due to the constituency considerations.
He pointed out that specially the
Mirpuris and Bangladeshis have tended to settle together in areas like
Bradford, Oldham and East London and thus have considerable impact on electoral
results. They are active in electoral politics and have been also used
by Pak lobbyists for influencing the media and politicians.
He also fears "serious repercussions"
because of "blatant anti-India stand" by many Peers and MPs who are likely
to be associated with the proposed group. They have been agitating the
Gujarat, Kashmir issues and allegd violations of Human Rights by India
in both the Houses.
The fear of a wave of anti-India
and a rise of pro-plebiscite lobby in a new colour was predicted by Balwant
Kapoor, a Freedom fighter and President of the Indian Overseas Congress
(London) UK.
While raising the question why not
then there should be groups of Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists, he pointed
out that Labour appeared to have chosen to pander to one religion and risked
sectarian chasms. He also warned that this group could use its influence
to work against Indian interests and damage excellent Indo-UK relations.
A Birmingham University lecturer
Sunil Koshakwala also told Hindustan Times that that petro-dollars and
the funds collected in mosques which have been stoking anti-India and anti-west
sentiments could be used to exploit any group based on religion.
He also agreed that Labour was possibly
under pressure because many of its members were accused of being Islamophobic
and the community was adept in making an " effective use of its voting
power".
