Labour Indians, the diaspora group launched earlier this year to foster closer ties between the Labour and the British Indian community, celebrated its first Diwali since the party won a landslide victory in the July general election.
Krish Raval OBE, Chair of Labour Indians, said: “We are part of the largest diaspora community in the world and the British Indian community's role in that diaspora is crucial for the prosperity and the wellbeing of everyone in the UK, not just people from our community, but British jobs across the board depend on this vital link between the UK and India.
“Our relationship with India is central to this success and it's in everyone's interest to strengthen and protect the living bridge between our countries.”
UK Secretaries of State for Health and Work and Pensions, Wes Streeting and Liz Kendall, were joined by British Indian Migration and citizenship Minister Seema Malhotra as they lit Diwali candles and shined a spotlight on the strength of the UK-India partnership.
Streeting said: “As we think about Diwali, this is a moment to think about personal reflection. And while I may come from one of the Abrahamic faiths, there is so much also to learn and draw from in terms of the Dharmic traditions in our country.
“Also, for us to think about the challenges in the world that sometimes seem insurmountable, the challenges in our country that may seem sometimes insurmountable, and remind ourselves that light always triumphs over darkness, that love always wins over hatred, hope always triumphs over despair, and that's the responsibility resting on our shoulders as a relatively new government.”
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His colleague, Liz Kendall, echoed his views on the contributions of the British Indian community and welcomed one of the most diverse Cabinets elected in British history.
Kendall said: “As the unbelievably proud Labour MP for Leicester West, a city whose Diwali celebrations are renowned throughout this country and throughout Europe, I really want to say what a special time this is in my city, a time of wonderful light and joy that people from every community and every faith and those of no faith come together to celebrate; to show that what we have in common is far more than what divides us.
“Our campaign to build those links, to strengthen and deepen our relationship with British Indians and with India itself is a strategic partnership that we must continue building from now into the future.”
Seema Malhotra added: “As the first female Punjabi member of Parliament from my home seat of Feltham and Heston, it gives me a huge amount of pride to see so many more Indians coming forward, and to also know that in this room is a huge amount of talent that we are going to see on the green benches in the future.”
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