I admire Manoj Ladwa who is devoted member of Labour Party, widely trusted and admired amongst British Indian community. He even tirelessly campaigned for Sadiq Khan for a while resulting in many members of British Indian community voting for him at the last Manorial election.
Likewise I have great respect for Labour MP Virendra Sharma who, along with Conservative Bob Blackman attended many EDM sessions in HOC, supporting India when most Conservative and Labour Friends of India MPs even failed to turn up.
So the alleged statement by Virendra that Pakistan does not harbour terrorists, nor it instigates cross border terrorism flies in the face of truth and reality, especially the entire international community condemned the attack on Mumbai, planned and executed from Pakistan, involving ISI. (Inter-Services Intelligence) Perhaps it could be understandable if it was made in unplanned, heated discussion.
But in view of his subsequent statement that this election should be about improving people’s lives and turning our back on politics of division I fully support, makes it even more confusing as to why he even mentioned Pakistan in his election address when he should have rightly concentrated on local issues like mental health he passionately supports. Even Labour’s manifesto has ditched its long standing principle of non-interference in Kashmir without a murmur from muzzled “Labour Friends of India” making us wonder where we would stand if fiduciary Labour without principle wins!
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
Via Email
