While openly supporting the Conservative Party, the Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party (OFBJP) in Britain is campaigning in Hindu temples, telling Indian origin voters not to vote for Labour Party for their stance in favour of Kashmiris.
The party is approaching social groups and temples to make speeches against the Labour Party, even though no temple, mosque, churches or charity is allowed to do this as it is against Charity Commission rules. Under the rules, temples, churches, mosques cannot endorse a party.
OFBJP UK's President Kuldeep Singh Shekhawa claimed that British Indian's votes could swing up to 40 seats and affect the election to be held on December 12, Times of India reported. The British Indian vote has the ability to decide the outcome of nearly 40 seats in the upcoming elections. Shekhawa said that the party is trying to oust six Indian-origin Labour MPs.
This is astonishing.
A Hindu temple in Britain (a charity) is allowing people to make speeches urging them to vote Conservative because Labour won't support the Indian govt on Kashmir.
So problematic on so many levels pic.twitter.com/W17DKbiqqG
— Sunny Hundal (@sunny_hundal) November 4, 2019
Shekhawa further said that the party is extending their support to Boris Johnson-led Conservative party for three reasons. "Firstly, some Labour MPs joined the violent protests outside India House on August 15 and September 3. Secondly, no Labour MPs spoke in favour of India in the House of Commons on Kashmir and thirdly because of the Labour motion on Kashmir passed at their party conference.
The party president said, "Kashmir is an internal matter of India. Why is the Labour party discussing the Indian state? We will only support MPs who support us". Shekhawa further said that the British-Indian group will be supporting just Virendra Sharma, who represents Ealing Southall.
On September 25, the Labour Party passed an emergency motion on Kashmir, calling for party leader Jeremy Corbyn to seek international observers to enter Indian-occupied Kashmir and demand the right of self-determination for its people.