In the early 1990s as President of National Hindu Students Forum (UK) I led a campaign against terrorist groups such as Hizb-ut-Tahir and Al Muhajiroun operating in UK universities. We built a coalition alongside the National Union of Students, Union of Jewish Students and others who supported our concerns. Those concerns regrettably remain, and with active Islamic State recruitment in the UK, have got worse. I spoke out then, often as a lonely voice, convincing our reluctant community leaders to take a strong stand, not withstanding direct threats to my personal safety. And I speak out now.
I know there will be friends who supported Zac Goldsmith for sincerely held reasons in the recent London Mayor election who will be feeling sore. He put forward credible ideas on housing, on transport, and the environment. Some of which I am sure City Hall will be well minded to consider.
But there is one reality that cannot be ignored. Zac's strategy to paint Sadiq Khan as an extremist has backfired. Sadiq is not and never was an extremist. Yes, he is Muslim, he is devout, and he is proud of that fact. He never hid it. Just as I am Hindu and I am very proud of my faith, my culture, and my community. Sadiq, like me and millions of children of immigrants, love the UK, and the great World City that is London. But in targeting Sadiq directly and with vicious innuendo, Zac used and abused our genuine concerns about safety and security in London (especially, serious concerns radical Islamists). His strategy fuelled prejudice against the vast majority, many of whom are thankfully now speaking out against the horrid fringe. Sadiq in hindsight will I am sure be the first to admit he could have made better choices in the past. But the consequence of Zac’s shrill campaign against Sadiq is that the real extremists have been shielded. It was a missed opportunity. Not good politics. Zac's campaign failed all Londoners.
It’s time to build bridges between communities that stand for the unity in diversity of London. And to now stand up forcefully to the real extremists who neither respect our diversity or ever want us to be united. Sadiq has repeatedly promised us that. We should support him in that quest and hold him to his promise that he will be a Mayor for All Londoners. Sadiq too will be conscious of his responsibility to repair the huge damage that the Labour Party has inflicted on itself and the wider political landscape by alienating Hindu, Sikh, and Jewish communities in large parts.
Sadiq has after all the largest personal mandate of any politician in the UK - and that too, a Muslim - who would have ever thought? His victory should be taken in the right spirit, it is an opportunity and not a threat. It gives hope to others from our diverse backgrounds who wish to make it to the top of UK politics. And they must!
