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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->HINDU VOTERS HOLD BALANCE OF POWER

25 April 2005: Nine Hindu organisations, led by the Hindu Forum of Britain, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK, the National Hindu Students Forum and Operation Black Vote (OBV) are holding a number of critical Question Time meetings with election candidates in Birmingham, Leicester, Harrow and Brent to give the local community the opportunity to question their future MPs.


The hustings are part of the Hindu Forum’s and OBV’s wider campaign to encourage local communities, especially Hindus from across the country, to vote in the forthcoming General Election. OBV has identified over six seats where Hindu voters (and 70 seats where the ethnic vote) can decide who wins and loses. 



Question time meetings will be held in:

·         Birmingham - From 7.00pm - 9.00pm on Wednesday 27 April 2005, at the Woodview Community Centre, Woodview Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2HU.



·         Leicester - From 6.00pm - 8.30pm on Saturday 30 April 2005, at the Shree Sanatan Mandir, Weymouth Street, Leicester LE4 OLH.



·         Harrow - From 11.00am - 1.00pm on Sunday 1 May 2005, at the Sangat Community Centre, Sancroft Road, Harrow, HA3 7NS.



·         Brent - From 6.30pm – 8.30pm on Monday 2 May 2005, at the Hindu Council of Brent, Cottrell House, 53/63, Wembley Hill Road, Wembley, HA9 8BE.



Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of The Hindu Forum of Britain said: “Recently we launched the British Hindu Charter with eight other Hindu organisations, which raised genuine concerns felt by the Hindu community in areas like public services, health, education and political representation. The meetings offer Hindus and the wider local community an opportunity to quiz their prospective MPs on their policies on issues of concern to them.”



Sanjay Mistry, Empowerment Coordinator of Operation Black Vote added: “The Black electorate do not have the luxury not to vote. If issues such as housing and crime are to be tackled successfully, then these candidates have to listen to the local community.  This is the perfect opportunity to voice their concerns.”



For more information contact Sanjay Mistry on 07810 368 772 or Ramesh Kallidai on 07915 383 103 or 07867 837 241.



Editor’s Notes:

1.        The Hindu Forum of Britain is the largest umbrella body with a broad-based membership of over 240 Hindu organisations from different regions and cultural backgrounds in Britain. At the core of the Forum’s activities is a strong belief in the richness and diversity of the Hindu culture, its value system that encompasses respect for all beings and faiths, and a cultural heritage that facilitates community cohesion and coexistence.

2.       Operation Black Vote is a non-party political campaign. The term “Black” is a political term. It refers to African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic minorities.

3.       The British Hindu Charter, a checklist of Hindu issues before the elections, was launched at the Commons on 23 March 2005 by The Hindu Council of Birmingham, The Hindu Council of Brent, The Hindu Council of Harrow, The Hindu Council of North, Hindu Forum of Britain, The Hindu Youth UK, Leicester Festival Hindu Council, The National Hindu Students Forum and The Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK

4.       Further information can be secured from HFB Website:  www.hinduforum.org

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