Having spent the last week, as one MP in the commons put it, ‘the Westminster bubble’ I felt it would be good to write a short reflection to look back on my short stint in the crazy world of politics.
The week began through attending a meeting held in parliament to welcome the BJP delegation which consisted of; President Nitin Godkari, President of the women wing Smriti Irani, Leader of opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly Vasundhra Scindia and many other prominent figures in the party. It was great to see that there was some degree of support from English and Indian parliamentarians for the BJP, along with a genuine interest to enquire about their fundamental ideas and policy. It showed that, especially in Britain we are more likely to take them for what they are rather than what the media portrays of them. Nitinji on several occasions stated something along the line of ‘judge us for what we do and not on how we are portrayed’. Of course, Narendra Modi’s supposed part in the Gujarat riot has created a stigma of the BJP with the usual “far right Hindu Party”. Yet, the party which controls 9 states in Bharat and has been involved in national government has never advocated any action which discriminates against minorities. As well as successfully putting this point across Nitinji succinctly laid out some of his parties key priorities, which was rural and agricultural development along with improving waterways.
Senior politicians who attended the meeting & the dinner reception included Alok Sharma MP, Virendra Sharma MP, Barry Gardiner MP, Lord Paul, Baroness Royal and a few others.
Apart from this, a week which has been dominated by the phone hacking scandal, it was reassuring to be present within the ‘Westminster bubble’ as it has given me a new sense of assurance in our democracy. Rupert Murdoch’s empire has lost billions in shares since parliament got actively involved and during the select committee meeting, this tycoon was s by the group of MP’s. Hence, for me it was a reassurance about the strength of British democracy and the ever importance of Hindu’s to be an integral part of it. Away from the glamour of it all, I don’t think people appreciate how accessible our institutions really are. Anyone of you could have attended those committee meetings; anyone of you could have been in the chamber watching David Cameron and anyone could have come in and met an MP, all it takes is initiative and a willingness to really put yourself out there.
Part of my goal, through SIP, will be to create this awareness of just how accessible the British democratic process is. This is the beauty; imagine the potential of our community once the awareness and willingness to become engaged within it becomes present.
The week began through attending a meeting held in parliament to welcome the BJP delegation which consisted of; President Nitin Godkari, President of the women wing Smriti Irani, Leader of opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly Vasundhra Scindia and many other prominent figures in the party. It was great to see that there was some degree of support from English and Indian parliamentarians for the BJP, along with a genuine interest to enquire about their fundamental ideas and policy. It showed that, especially in Britain we are more likely to take them for what they are rather than what the media portrays of them. Nitinji on several occasions stated something along the line of ‘judge us for what we do and not on how we are portrayed’. Of course, Narendra Modi’s supposed part in the Gujarat riot has created a stigma of the BJP with the usual “far right Hindu Party”. Yet, the party which controls 9 states in Bharat and has been involved in national government has never advocated any action which discriminates against minorities. As well as successfully putting this point across Nitinji succinctly laid out some of his parties key priorities, which was rural and agricultural development along with improving waterways.
Senior politicians who attended the meeting & the dinner reception included Alok Sharma MP, Virendra Sharma MP, Barry Gardiner MP, Lord Paul, Baroness Royal and a few others.
Apart from this, a week which has been dominated by the phone hacking scandal, it was reassuring to be present within the ‘Westminster bubble’ as it has given me a new sense of assurance in our democracy. Rupert Murdoch’s empire has lost billions in shares since parliament got actively involved and during the select committee meeting, this tycoon was s by the group of MP’s. Hence, for me it was a reassurance about the strength of British democracy and the ever importance of Hindu’s to be an integral part of it. Away from the glamour of it all, I don’t think people appreciate how accessible our institutions really are. Anyone of you could have attended those committee meetings; anyone of you could have been in the chamber watching David Cameron and anyone could have come in and met an MP, all it takes is initiative and a willingness to really put yourself out there.
Part of my goal, through SIP, will be to create this awareness of just how accessible the British democratic process is. This is the beauty; imagine the potential of our community once the awareness and willingness to become engaged within it becomes present.
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