My name is Manish Amriwala and I am the General Secretary for Gujarati Arya Kshatriya Mahasbha UK (GAKM UK); a national body that represents the Hindu Gujarati Mochi Community (A Dalit Community in the eyes of Caste Watch UK and other lobbyists) in the United Kingdom.
I am writing to in regards to concerns we have with amendment that are to be discussed one final time in the House of Commons; specifically in regards to the section concerning Caste Discrimination.
Please find attached a formal statement from GAKM UK which detailed our concerns to the Equalities Minister; Lynn Featherstone back in May 2011; to which we never received a response to and are not sure if it has ever been taken into account when debating the motion – considering the motion is based on someone reporting to represent our community we thought we would have been contacted to discuss in more detail.
As a Hindu Community representing over 20,000 Members of what the report calls a ‘Dalit Community’, and an affiliate of a larger organisation representing over 800,000 Hindus; We are distressed to hear that MPs are supporting a motion which is based on a totally on sided report, that uses examples from over 30 years ago and that has not even engaged with the local\national bodies of the ‘Castes’ reportedly being discriminated against.
As General Secretary for GAKM, myself and my committee urge you to withdraw your support for the Caste Legislation that will be read on 16th April 2013 in the House of Commons; and make ourselves and community members available for detailed discussions with yourself, the ministers in charge and the Government, for a fair and balanced review.
GAKM UK Equalites Act Caste Statement