Mr Mehta says that I was put in the House of Lords by the Conservative Party which I have now abandoned. I think he will find that no-one in the Conservative Party feels that I have abandoned them. I chose to leave the party so that I could speak on the sort of issues which Mr Mehta disapproves of.
He further says that I believe that if there is no discrimination there is no need to oppose the law on caste discrimination. This is not about passing laws to please certain groups. Caste discrimination clause was passed by both Houses of Parliament because they had received sufficient information which suggests that there may be caste discrimination. The Equalities Act is all about dealing with any form of discrimination.
Mr Mehta says that I have abandoned my sponsors. I didn't know I had any sponsors. Not a single Hindu organisation or any particular individual has ever come forward to support me in anything. The House of Lords is not elected but please remember that this clause was passed by the elected House as well.
The only way now to remove the clause would be to pass another Act of Parliament which would have to go through both Houses which is what Lord Popat asked for. It may also interest Mr Mehta to know that the Muslim Council of Great Britain has called me a bigot, perhaps he feels the same way about me!
Shreela Flather
By email