National Kashmir protest (Photo: flickr/ Steve Eason)
South Asian politics has a direct effect on what happens in British cities such as Leicester, particularly when there are tensions in Kashmir.
Both Hindutva—Hindu chauvinism—and Pakistani nationalism have a chance of creating confrontations in Britain between the two sides.
This is a very likely scenario since we already saw riots in 2022 in Leicester between Hindu and Muslim South Asians.
It becomes a challenge to organise politically in such a climate, as the working class becomes divided on a multitude of issues and identities.
Ultimately, the working class is put under immense strain by the ruling classes.
This happens through cuts to disability benefits, a struggling NHS, a struggling education system and increased spending on defence rather than the people.
And this comes regardless of what faith, colour, disability or gender the worker is.
When challenging Pakistani nationalism and Hindutva politics, we cannot allow any space for racism and Islamophobia towards either side.
The struggle in Kashmir is related to the struggle here at home. We have far more in common with those living through war and strife than with the billionaires who share our ethnicity.
Workers pay the price for war, not the diplomats and politicians in suits.
Zoya, Leicester
Sudanese trade unionists sent a powerful message of solidarity to the Birmingham bin workers last week.
The message was sent by the Sudanese Workers Alliance for the Restoration of Trade Unions (SWARTU) and the Alliance of Demand-Based Campaigns (TAM).
They said, “Austerity, racism and union-busting are global policies aimed at weakening the power of the working class.
“The fightback begins with organisation, coordination, consciousness, and the tearing down of artificial borders between workers here and there.
“We stand with you, and we say—there is no going back.
“You are not alone. Your voices reach us.
“Just as bin workers in Sudan—without an official union—organised their own committees, we see you continuing on this path with resilience and awareness.”
The message was read at the megapicket on Friday 9 May and was well received.
Khalid, Portsmouth
I was asked to have my picture taken with those who were protesting outside Scarborough Town Hall against Reform UK last week. For an awkward moment, I was reluctant.
Figuring it’s the inaugural meeting of Scarborough Town Council, let’s not get started on the wrong foot. But then I remembered who Reform UK are.
I remembered what its leader Farage stands for, his admiration of Enoch Powell and Donald Trump. I remembered the screenshots in my pocket from councillors—some of them in the hall—and their racist allegiances. I remembered the dismissal by their party of all initiatives to promote equality and inclusion in our society.
Reform UK has attempted to wipe out, with a stroke of the pen, all the efforts of councils across the country to combat the climate emergency.
We must not normalise Reform UK.
Councillor Rich Maw, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Keir Starmer has repeatedly said he wants economic growth and that economic growth will solve our problems. But immigration is the only reason the economy has grown at all in recent years.
This is because the rich have put so little investment in the economy. Now Starmer intends to sacrifice that growth by pandering to Reform UK.
That policy is not only utterly disgusting but monstrously stupid. Reform UK will grow if the economy stagnates.
Rob Hoveman, Bradford
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