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 April 27, at the Woodview Community Centre, Woodview Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2HU.
At Leicester from 6.00pm - 8.30pm on April 30, 2005, at the Shree Sanatan Mandir, Weymouth Street, Leicester LE4 OLH. At Harrow - From 11.00am - 1.00pm on May 1, 2005, at the Sangat Community Centre, Sancroft Road, Harrow, HA3 7NS. At Brent - From 6.30pm to 8.30pm on May 2, 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."