8 April 2010

The Hindu community could play a crucial role in some key marginal seats this general election claims the Hindu Forum of Britain which is urging them to make their vote count. Hindus in Britain number well over 750,000 and make a significant contribution to the country, far in excess of their numbers. Wiith signs of a possible hung parliament, the Hindu vote could be pivotal in some seats. Though dispersed throughout the UK, sizable numbers of Hindus are concentrated in certain areas like the suburbs of London and the south east; Leicester, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Yorkshire. In some of these areas the Hindu vote may have a significant impact on who represents them and addresses their concerns in Parliament. But many British Hindus still feel that Government and decision-makers are failing to address many of their concerns, despite being the third largest faith group.

The Hindu Forum of Britain is implementing a campaign to encourage the community to engage with their prospective parliamentary candidates and to air their views before making an informed decision as to which party to vote for. As part of the campaign the HFB will be organising local hustings, distributing information through temples, community centres and other mediums to raise awareness on the importance of voting. Arjan Vekaria, President of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said: “Voting is a most important civic right yet large numbers of Hindus abstained from voting in the past but in this general election, more than any other, the Hindu vote could be a deciding factor, so we urge Hindus to get out and vote intelligently. Our campaign aims to encourage Hindus to make their vote count.

“Like many other communities, Hindus are concerned about access to public services, health, education, employment’ security, crime, housing, environment, etc., but there are also many other specific issues that hamper community cohesion. Hindus are a silent but very influential minority yet many feel that the country’s politicians and decision makers largely ignore their concerns so with the parties being so close Hindus should use this opportunity to engage with their parliamentarians, air their concerns and get some commitment to resolving issues that prevent them from practicing their religious rights and beliefs.”

About The Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB)

The Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) is the largest representative body for British Hindus with over 420 member organisations from different regions around the country. HFB’s activities are broadly divided into three areas: public affairs and community consultation; capacity building and project development; and interfaith co-operation and relations to help build a cohesive and inclusive Britain.