{"id":7375,"date":"2013-04-24T05:16:18","date_gmt":"2013-04-24T04:16:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/socialism.in\/?p=7375"},"modified":"2013-04-24T05:16:18","modified_gmt":"2013-04-24T04:16:18","slug":"britain-mps-refuse-to-outlaw-caste-discrimination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.socialism.in\/?p=7375","title":{"rendered":"Britain: MPs refuse to outlaw caste discrimination"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"1366131858-protest-urges-mps-to-outlaw-caste-discrimination_1964011\"<\/a>This article was originally printed in the May Day issue of the Socialist, the weekly paper of the Socialist Party in Britain. The Socialist Party<\/a> is the England and Wales\u00a0 section of the CWI<\/a> (Committee for a Workers’ international) and the sister party of New Socialist Alternative<\/strong> (CWI-India).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

For decades religious elites have been promoted by the ruling class in\u00a0Britain\u00a0to help control migrant communities. But since the formation of these Hindu elite organisations, fundamentally high-caste organisations, there has also been mounting opposition by oppressed-caste people.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Support for the call to outlaw caste discrimination is growing in\u00a0Britain. However, a recommendation to recognise caste discrimination in equalities legislation was recently defeated in the British parliament after a brief debate.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The article outlines the background of this debate and the hypocrisy of the current government. It also points to the class and caste links, an understanding of which is essential for those fighting against caste discrimination in general.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

We publish this as a contribution to the discussions taking place on how to develop a strategy to fight the caste system.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

TU Senan<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Socialist Party (England & Wales)<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"caste<\/a>Hundreds protested outside Parliament on 14 April to demand that caste oppression in\u00a0Britain\u00a0be outlawed. A 2010 attempt to illegalise the discrimination suffered by many in the South Asian communities was rejected by all three parties. This time MPs again voted against adding caste discrimination to the Equality Act by 307 to 243.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2010 parliament accepted a compromise motion from Labour left MP John McDonnell to undertake research, which has now been published. Outrageously during the recent parliamentary debate ministers led by Lib Dem equalities minister Jo Swinson continued to claim there is insufficient evidence of the extent of caste discrimination.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only has ample evidence been uncovered by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), hundreds of victims of this horrendous discrimination were standing right outside parliament at the time. Further devastating testimonials were reported in the press.<\/span><\/p>\n

The NIESR research showed caste-based discrimination in schools and workplaces in\u00a0Britain. In one incident a student was refused entry to a school. There are many complaints of upper-caste carers refusing to provide care for oppressed-caste patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently the tribunal case of Vijay Begraj, a victim of caste discrimination at work, was thrown out as the judge was given information that she claimed could have impaired her ability to provide an \u2018impartial\u2019 judgement. During the case stones were thrown at the house of director of Castewatch\u00a0UK\u00a0who gave evidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

There have even been murders related to mixed caste marriages in the past and mixed couples who want to marry still receive death threats. But the government refuses to take action.<\/span><\/p>\n

While caste oppression can be largely invisible to wider society, it causes enormous pain to those subjected to it. An estimated 400,000 \u2018low-caste\u2019 people live in\u00a0Britain. Swinson and those who opposed the amendment argued for education rather than legislation \u2013 but both are necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

Caste is a remnant of feudalism, where society was divided into hierarchical groups, castes. People are forced to assume their caste by birth. Marriage between castes is forbidden. Hinduism acts as the backbone in preserving the caste system but it is also defended by those who enjoy the resulting privileges, such as those from the upper caste and those who use caste division to advance and defend their own interests. Although caste discrimination is illegal in\u00a0India, hundreds of low- or oppressed-caste people suffer every day.<\/span><\/p>\n

The debate revealed that the government, in defence of the status quo, is working closely with the very organisations that fuel caste oppression; the Hindu Council\u00a0UK, the Hindu Forum of Britain and other organisations that are led by high-caste Hindus.<\/span><\/p>\n

The managing director of the Hindu Council\u00a0UK, Anil Bhanot, claimed that the \u201ccaste phenomenon here has now evolved into more of a clan system\u201d and \u201cthere is no discrimination in this\u201d. He asks \u201chow can such a clubbing together of people be other than a healthy and cohesive force in society?\u201d This indirect argument for segregation has also been used by successive governments in\u00a0Britain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Soon after New Labour came to power in 1997 it promoted academies and faith schools \u2013 in reality steps towards the privatisation of education. A report earlier this year from the Academies Commission warned that the Con-Dems\u2019 acceleration of this process risks segregation of students.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the Hindu elite seized the opportunity. The Krishna Avanti Primary, the first Hindu school in the country, claims to promote \u201cresponsible lifestyles through a vegetarian diet, a curriculum that integrates yoga and meditation, and a built environment that actively fosters environmental concern\u2026 by drawing on the teachings of Krishna Chaitanya\u201d and it claims to achieve \u201cspontaneous relationship with the divine (Krishna)\u201d. But given many oppressed-caste people pray to a different Hindu deity, this makes the school exclusive to the high caste.<\/span><\/p>\n

While claiming they don\u2019t practice \u2018untouchability\u2019, the Hindu Council defends it. A Hindu Council statement attacks those who criticise untouchability while ignoring similar practices in their own countries. Incredibly they claim that: \u201cThere are now record levels of homeless people in the\u00a0UK, who are analogous with the outcastes of Indian society. British menial workers seldom interact socially with those of the higher echelons\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conservative MP Alok Sharma, who defends academisation, privatisation and privileged schooling, also defends the Hindu Council vehemently. He argues that \u201cclass discrimination exists, as do other forms of discrimination, but we follow other approaches for those, rather than legislation\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The accusation that class discrimination is often confused as caste discrimination is used by the Hindu elite to gain support. They rely on the ruling class\u2019s ignorance of South Indian society, portraying Hinduism as a monolithic religion and\u00a0India\u00a0as a country of Hindus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Atrocities committed by British imperialism in South Asia have been used to argue that no one from\u00a0Britain\u00a0has a right to meddle in these affairs. This is combined with the idea that \u2018communities\u2019 should have a certain level of autonomy. In reality this means that an often conservative and right-wing leadership is consciously promoted by the main parties, New Labour in particular. This has provided \u2018stewards\u2019 to maintain what Labour sees as block \u2018community\u2019 votes, and to hold back resistance to the discrimination working class and poor black and Asian people suffer in Britain.<\/span><\/p>\n

However Dalits and other oppressed caste people in\u00a0Britain\u00a0have begun to raise their voices and to protest against the promotion of upper-caste Hindus by the government. The growing protest has pushed some Labour politicians to act, at least providing lip service to their cause.<\/span><\/p>\n

Neither the equality bill nor any anti-racial laws cover caste discrimination, leaving victims unable to challenge it legally. Outlawing caste discrimination will encourage the victims of caste discrimination to come forward as happened after the outlawing of race discrimination.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, as in the case with legislating against racism, the law itself will not change the conditions and prevent discrimination. In fact there is no doubt that the ruling class will continue their collaboration with the feudal elite from each \u2018community\u2019, promoting inequality for their own economic and electoral interests.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"caste\"<\/a>As in the investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence 20 years ago, the fatal police shooting of Mark Duggan, and Vijay Begraj\u2019s tribunal, the police and justice system have not delivered satisfactory outcomes. As the parliamentary debate showed human rights will not take precedence over the class interests for the defenders of capitalism. The Con-Dems will vigorously defend their allies, the Hindu elite and their businesses including the profit-making temples and faith schools.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those who are fighting against caste domination must unite with their allies such as trade unions, students and socialist. The Socialist Party supports the fightback of the Dalits and other oppressed castes.<\/span><\/p>\n

TU Senan<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Socialist Party (England & Wales)<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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