8
UK
Chicken Tikka Masala rejected at St George's Day celebration
Tania Rahman (27), was “shocked and upset” as the Salisbury City Council rejected her proposal of serving Chicken Tikka Masala at the St George's Day celebration. They stated that it was “not English enough” and that visitors at the event should eat “English themed food only”. Chicken Tikka Masala has long been considered one of Britain’s favourite dishes, becoming as popular, if not more, than the Sunday roasts or fish and chips. However, the refusal of having the dish at the St George's Day celebration has bewildered Tania Rahman, as well as many others. After reading the refusal email, Rahman was
stunned. She said, “I was hugely disappointed. I consider myself to be English – I was born in this country. It is the utter ignorance of it all that makes me most upset. Salisbury itself is so diverse. The most popular restaurants there are Indian.” The Salisbury council has apologised to Miss Rahman and invited her to set up stall at the event. However, a spokesman
said they had initially felt that chicken tikka masala would clash with the “olde worlde traditional English” theme, which features Morris dancers and dragons. “The council never intended to be racist. The theme of the St George’s Day event in 2015 was olde worlde traditional English with Morris Dancers and dragon fighting. Ms Rahman has raised some very interesting points about modern England and the Council will wish to reflect upon these issues when setting the theme for the St George’s Day in 2016 and onwards.”
Man banned from Tube for rubbing himself on women
Muhammed Tahir (53), had been banned from travelling on the London Underground as he rubbed himself against a young commuter on the tube. The 53-year-old dry cleaner had followered the young commuter on to a Central Line train, after having spotted her on the platform. He then veered towards the victim, who was in her 20s, and slid his hand across her thigh as she stood with other passengers, pretending that it was by mistake. As the victim tried to move away, he would move even closer and began to rub his potbelly
and crotch on her bottom. During his vulgar actions, Tahir was not aware of undercover police officers, who were watching his every move. The Old Bailey were told about how the undercover police officers first saw Tahir when he got off his train at Mile End at around 8am on 24 July 2014.
Continued from page 1 entrepreneurs. Each year, up to 10 people become recipients of the award, individuals who have been recognised by their peers as those who have voluntarily passed on their skills and experience to future generations, and actively involved themselves in the education and development of the next generation of entrepreneurs. As the first female Asian recipient of the award, today marks a key moment for the recognition of Asian women as entrepreneurs. Asian
women have long had a strong presence in the running and creation of SMEs, but received little wider recognition for their contribution to entrepreneurship in the UK. The award comes after a long career spent as a passionate advocate for diversity and entrepreneurship in business and the creative industries, for which she received an MBE in 2009. Lopa Patel also founded the equality and diversity think tank, Diversity UK, an organisation of which she currently sits as CEO. She is also a nonExecutive Director of
Muhammed Tahir, 53
The distressed woman had managed to attract the attention of one of the officers, which led to the arrest of Tahir. Detectives also later detected that Tahir was charged with two similar offences in 2003, only to be cleared after the prosecution file failed to arrive in court in time. Judge Rebecca Poulet QC, ordered order to tackle his problems under the supervision of probation officers. Tahir was sentenced to 26 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years with 12 months supervision as well as 150 hours of unpaid work.
First Asian woman to receive the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion
Labour Councillor's son returns to UK after detainment in Turkey
Waheed Ahmed (21), the son of Rochdale Labour Councillor, Shakil Ahmed, was arrested for attempting to go to Syria via Turkey. He has now returned to the UK. Shakil Ahmed had believed his son was in Birmingham on a work placement, when he found out that he was detained in Turkey. He was “shocked, worried and extremely upset”
when he found out that his son had been arrested on the Turkey-Syria border. Shakil Ahmed had stated, “My son is a good Muslim and his loyalties belong to Britain, so I don’t understand what he’s doing there. If I thought for a second that he was in danger or being radicalised, I would have reported him to the authorities."
EMBG (Ethnic Minority Business Group) and a Trustee of educational charity Raha International. She is a Technology Ambassador for STEMNET, helping to encourage girls to take up science careers, a sector in which just 13% of the workforce are women (‘Women in scientific careers’ Parliamentary Report, 2014). Lopa Patel’s receipt of this award comes after a considerable career spent dedicated to the promotion of skills and enterprise throughout the UK and has enabled her to build a reputation as an inspirational figure in her field. She has promoted entrepreneurship, mentored new ventures and directed the activities of business networks and support programs. She is also the first Asian woman to be elected as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and is also a Fellow of the RSA, the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th April 2015
Kapil’s
KHICHADI
by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com
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 Shri Jasdev 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.
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 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.
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: a. The legislation on caste in its entirety be repealed within the first two years of the next Parliamentary Term. b. Genuine independent research should be conducted on a longitudinal basis. c. Full detailed impact assessments should be carried out: business sector, concerned communities, society in general and the service sector. 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
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 Dr Subramanian Swamy with Kapil Dudakia (AV) blown British Hindu Manifesto Rakshak’ award by Dr S Swamy during (BHM). The BHM was led by the his recent visit to the UK. I am most Hindu Forum of Britain in partnership grateful to the NCHT and the BBHS with the National Council of Hindu for having confidence to grant me this Temples. Other major leading organisaaward. I understand it is for my work tions also joined in to lend their supin the media. I accept the award in the port including Hindu Lawyers spirit it has been given and I hope that Association, City Hindu Network, I may continue to live up to these high Birmingham Hindu Council, Hindu standards in my column. Council of the North and the