The Labour party has perhaps been the last of the three main UK parties to have a Jewish leader, but no one could ever imagine that it would have anything to do with anti-Semitism. On a similar note, the Indian community never thought Labour party could ever severe ties with the diaspora under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, especially after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the centre stage. But with time it seems, under the party's new leader, has come a series of remarks and frivolous disregard for some of the diaspora and their faith in Britain. And in both cases, it was just a matter of time for the issues to erupt again.
Corbyn and anti-Semitism
The Labour party historically have had deep links with British Jewry. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jeweish Leadership Council issued an open letter accusing Mr Corbyn of siding with anti-Semitics and announced 'enough is enough'.
In his response, of course Mr Corbyn acknowledged that anti-Jewish prejudice has surfaced within Labour party and it has been wrong for some people to disregard it "as a matter of a few bad apples". He has therefore promised to deal with allegations of abuse more quickly and improve "political education" among activists. But the matter is not just of a few 'rotten apples'. It has also been about Corbyn's own bad decisions and a failure to protect one against the other.
Over the past few days Corbyn himself has been alleged to be a part of three facebook groups in which anti-Semitic conspiracy theories including holocaust denial have been discussed and he has been challenged about his objection of removal of a street mural with anti-Semitic message, where he supported the artist. Yet all he could say to his own defence was, “I sincerely regret that I did not look more closely at the image I was commenting on.”
Corbyn has unfortunately become the 'poster boy' for anti-Semitism, with more than 15 MPs joining a 600 strong Jewish protest against his leadership, that also included officials and Peers. Protesters at the Parliament Square reportedly shouted that there was no safe space for Jews in the Labour party any more and wanted 'Jeremy Corbyn to go'.
Luciana Berger, chair of Jewish Labour, reportedly said anti-Semitism was a "stain on the conscience of the party".
Jonathan Arkush, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, also reportedly said the Labour leader simply needed to confront and expel anti-Semites from the party.
"He's clearly trying to make up some ground but in the end it's about actions and not words," he said.
BBC reported that former Prime Minister Tony Blair told Newsnight the time for words was over and Mr Corbyn had to show he was "prepared to act" to "root it out, completely, 100 per cent". Mr Blair, who became a Middle East envoy after leaving power in 2007, however has been accused for very long by the left of having too cosy a relationship with the successive Israel governments.
The problem is not just political but also very deep rooted in the community. Britain's Chief Rabbi said he had reached out to the Muslim clerics to combat anti-Semitism, but they were not publicly present to engage with Jewish religious leaders. So Rabbi was forced to offer private meetings, which have not materialised as yet. In a speech at the Global Forum of Combating anti-Semitism, in Jerusalem, Ephraim Mirvis complained that the leaders were “keeping silent.”
Corbyn and anti-Modi sentiments
A report in The Guardian in 2015 with headline 'Jeremy Corbyn has the moral rights to challenge Narendra Modi' said, “Corbyn has long been a trenchant critic of Modi. In 2013, as the Foreign Office began making overtures to Modi after having snubbed him for more than a decade, Corbyn signed a parliamentary motion calling on the British government to reinstate its diplomatic boycott of Modi, 'given his role in the communal violence in 2002 (in Gujarat) that claimed the lives of hundreds if not thousands of Muslims'”.
Corbyn is believed to have had a long standing relationship with Indians, especially with Indian workers. In fact reportedly it was his Jewish-American intellectual mentor, the writer Mike Marqusee, a tireless champion of India, introduced Corbyn to India and the country's history. The irony is, Corbyn has failed his own mentor, his faith and definitely introduction to India's history.
A leader who himself could stoop as low as to take part (whether by accident or voluntary) in a political subculture that believes world events such as the holocaust were manipulated by a Jewish conspiracy, and allies with alleged extremists himself, holds no right to sign an early day motion (EDM) to ban a country's elected Prime Minister's visit to the UK, as it was in 2015. Corbyn's actions affected the Indian sentiments, especially that of the Gujaratis living here, who interestingly have a very close relationship and inherent similarities with the Jewish community.
When the Indian diaspora arrived in this country from East Africa, especially after Idi Amin's expulsion, they undoubtedly all voted for the Labour party. But the Conservatives stole Labour's vote bank just because of the party's gradual failing leadership, and the leaders' inabilities to connect with the sentiments of the Indian diaspora. Unfortunately Labour party is now led by a man who fails the test of political integrity too. But he still has a chance to mend his social and emotional ties. With Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from 16 till 20th April, Narendra Modi will be in London soon. It is perhaps Corbyn's last opportunity to forge the old ties and build something on a cleaner note. The diaspora is hoping and eagerly watching.
