LONDON, ENGLAND, May 12, 2009: Indian-born MP Virendra Sharma has pointed out that the Equality Bill currently under discussion in Parliament needs to address the caste-based discrimination among South Asians in Britain.
As written, the bill aims to consolidate nine existing equality laws into a single law banning discrimination based on race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief. Sharma, representing the Indian-dominated London suburb of Southall, argues that this list is incomplete and must address caste discrimination. “There are no exceptions: people try to make it into a Hindu issue, but it is not. It is social. Whether you are Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or Sikh, if you have come from the subcontinent you will have caste built into your social fabric.”
Sharma says caste prejudice is a big issue in his Southall constituency and that leglislation is urgently needed: “There are more and more Indian companies coming here and they are bringing in senior managers who are in a position to recruit… They can tell your caste from your surname.”
Eugene Culas, Director of Voice of Dalit International, agrees: “There is discrimination in marriage, jobs, service and education, but people don’t want to talk about it out of embarrassment – especially second generation immigrants. People won’t admit to the problem without some sort of moral support.” Britain-based Dalit groups say there are at least 50,000 Dalits living in Britain.