The Hindu community in the UK has launched its first-ever manifesto, detailing their demands for a future government ahead of the July 4 general election. The 32-page document outlines the expectations of UK Hindus from politicians of all parties and calls for candidates to publicly endorse it on social media. As of Tuesday, four Conservative candidates, Bob Blackman, Robert Buckland, Rahesh Singh, and Theresa Villiers, had endorsed the manifesto.
Pleased to attend the #HinduHarmonyConference yesterday for launch of #Hindanifesto together with #TheresaVilliers 1/2 pic.twitter.com/CItLh166gm
— Bob Blackman (@BobBlackman) June 9, 2024
Drafted by thirteen major British Hindu organizations, including the Hindu Council UK, Hindu Forum of Britain, Hindu Mandir Network UK, National Council of Hindu Temples, and Iskcon UK, the manifesto addresses the concerns of over a million Hindus in the UK. It specifically calls for the recognition of anti-Hindu hate as a religious hate crime, highlighting the rise of such incidents. Examples of anti-Hindu hate crimes include conflating Hindu identity with Indian citizenship or ethnicity, denying or downplaying the persecution of Hindus, making baseless claims about the political motives of Hindus, and suggesting that social inequities in India are inherently linked to Hinduism.
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The manifesto notes an increase in hate-motivated vandalism, burglary, and threats against Hindu temples, advocating for dedicated security schemes and funding for their protection. It also calls for mandatory inclusion of Hinduism in the GCSE curriculum, more language schools teaching Indic languages, and increased funding for state-funded Hindu faith schools.
The document recommends the appointment of Hindu chaplains in all prisons, hospitals, and schools, and the availability of Hindu deities and articles of faith in prayer rooms. It also seeks a streamlined visa process for Hindu priests and the dependents of UK Hindus, highlighting that the current process is cumbersome and costly, and requests longer visa durations.
Additionally, the manifesto urges MPs to consult Hindu organizations before legislating on issues affecting UK Hindus. It advocates for a memorial for Hindu soldiers who served the UK, more crematoriums, and a faster coroner’s process to allow Hindu cremations within three days of death. It also calls for candidates to recognize the primarily spiritual connection UK Hindus have with India and to understand the dharmic way of life.
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