Diwali reception held in speaker’s state chambers
STARMER AMONG GUESTS AT THE EVENT
IT HAS now become a tradition for the British prime minister of the day to host a Diwali reception at 10, Downing Street, just as there is for the US president in the White House.
This year marking Diwali was the last thing on Liz Truss’s mind, such was the chaos in British politics. Also, talk of a bilateral UK-India Free Trade Agreement “by Diwali”, which Boris Johnson had promised as prime minister in his first avatar back in April, was put to one side.
In any case, Truss resigned last Thursday (20), four days before Diwali. In the event, Sir Lindsay Hoyle stepped in and allowed the Speaker’s magnificent state chambers in the Palace of Westminster to be the venue for a Diwali reception organised by a cross-party group of MPs.
Eastern Eye found Sir Lindsay in high spirits, generously posing for selfies with any Indian who wanted one – and that was just about everyone.
He laughed when Eastern Eye suggested that maintaining order in a raucous House of Commons – and he agreed that afternoon’s session had been particularly noisy – was good training for dealing with an excited Indian Diwali crowd.
It took 45 minutes to queue and get through security at Portcullis House before guests were admitted to the speaker’s home. There was a nice touch when they were departing – everyone was given a given a small box of mithai.
In his Diwali message, Sir Lindsay said: “My greetings to everyone who will be celebrating the festival of Diwali this year. The celebrations may be somewhat different this year but, perhaps, especially in these challenging times, may the merriment and the gladness of the festival of light bring you joy, fulfilment and wishing you peace.”
Guests included the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, the deputy Indian High Commissioner Sujit Ghosh, the Indian-origin high commissioner for Uganda, Nimisha Madhvani, and the Nepalese ambassador Gyan Chandra Acharya.
The organisers included Shailesh Vara, former Northern Ireland secretary and Tory MP for North West Cambridgeshire; the veteran Labour MP for Ealing Southall, Virendra Sharma; and the Lib Dem peer Lord Navnit Dholakia.
Vara said that Hindus lived in all parts of the world, and therefore Diwali and its message of peace was being celebrated across the globe. He also mentioned that Europe was now at its most dangerous since the Second World War, given the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and he particularly spoke of hope and the message of peace in regards to the conflict.
He added: “It’s fantastic to be in the state rooms of the speaker. I am very pleased that so many people were able to join us to celebrate Diwali in parliament. The UK parliament represents all communities and faiths in the UK, and it is therefore particularly significant that Hindus are able to celebrate Diwali here, too. The message of peace is universal, and it is important that we continue to convey its importance, especially at this time of Diwali.”
Sharma said: “Bringing the parliamentary community together to celebrate this special time of year is always a pleasure. I am grateful to the speaker for hosting us again in his state apartments, and want to wish everyone celebrating a happy Diwali.”
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