A ‘bumpy year’ for UK’s Indians too
LONDON: Queen Elizabeth mentioned 2019 as ‘quite bumpy’ in her Christmas message, referring to convulsions on Brexit, but it was equally eventful for the Indian community: from violent protests on Kashmir to the election of a record 15 Indian-origin MPs to the House of Commons.
It was the year when the ‘British Indian vote’ asserted itself.
Until recently, the 1.5 millionstrong community rarely figured in mainstream British news discourse, but Labour’s position of Kashmir seen as anti-India and the reactions it provoked hit the headlines during elections. The new group of Indian-origin MPs after the December 12 election is the latest example of the diaspora’s growing participation in politics in various countries. It is also a British success story, despite continuing concerns on racism prompted by Brexit.
In a country where racism marked the experiences of generations of Indian immigrants, such normalisation of Indian figures in the frontline of British politics is the result of laws and initiatives by stakeholders to make parliament more representative of British society. On Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet table sit three Indian-origin ministers.
On December 15, two days after the election results, BBC’s flagship Andrew Marr Show featured extended interviews with Lisa Nandy on behalf of Labour and Rishi Sunak for the Conservative Party that won majority.
While many take pride at the growing success of the diaspora, the 15 MPs are essentially British, tuned to British concerns, not so much to India’s. Most do not join India-related debates in parliament, nor push New Delhi’s stand on key issues.
The election saw Labour veteran Keith Vaz step down in controversial circumstances after 32 years in the House of Commons. He was the first Indian or Asian origin MP, first elected in 1987, going on to play key roles in the community and India-UK ties.
Violence outside the Indian high commission on the Kashmir issue on August 15 and September 3 was a dubious record of sorts, but strong official protests prevented repeats. “They now know the cost of allowing such protests,” a senior community leader remarked.
Labour’s position on Kashmir riled many in the community, but that is the least of its concerns now as an inquest begins on its fourth electoral defeat since 2010.
Nandy, daughter of an Indian academic and a British mother, may well rebuild bridges if elected to replace party leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2020.
Remarks about India and Indo-UK relations by leading lights of the British government are often marked by platitudes, but it remains to be seen to what extent the country figures in the Johnson government’s plans in the post-Brexit scenario. A free trade agreement with India is often mentioned, but ones with the EU and the US is on top of the agenda.
Besides the Indian high commission’s growing community outreach, the year saw major events to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in London and across the UK.
During the year, two individuals wanted in India to face charges of major financial offences – Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi – went through various stages of the extradition process. While the High Court allowed Mallya to appeal against extradition, Modi was refused bail four times.