Despite concentrated efforts by local Hindu organizations with world-wide support, Bank of England’s (BOE) stead-fast refusal not only to withdraw £5 beef-laced notes but also to introduce similar £10 polymer bank-notes is a slap on Hindu community’s cultural and religious sensitivities. Perhaps it is time to take protest one step higher, to the Conservative PM, involving Hindu political heavyweights with direct line of communication with PM. Could BOE dare to offend other, much united, well organized communities with vote-bank ethics!
To ban these notes in temples may not cut ice with BOE. Perhaps Hindu community may come up with ingenious, effective but legal ideas that would throw spanner in BOE strategy. If everyone stores at least 100 such offending notes creating shortages, putting BOE on wrong footing may help, if carried out with full community support.
But entrepreneur Hindu community’s entrenched resistance to act collectively, putting our financial interest, political advancement above community wellbeing is unbridgeable barrier, will never allow us to unite effectively to dent BOE strategy. In any case many Hindus regard this act by BOE as storm in tea-cup, fiddle-faddle issue, not worth the hassle! Perhaps well informed readers of GS/AV may come-up with better, effective brinkmanship that may cut ice with community. The ball is now in readers’ court!
Kumudini Valambia
By email
