UK Parliament: In Conversation with the British Hindus

Kesh Morjaria • October 16, 2025

UK Parliament, Churchill Hall – 1st September 2025

On 1st September 2025, the UK Parliament hosted In Conversation with the British Hindus, a first-of-its-kind gathering that brought together 30+ MPs and 50+ community leaders representing more than 65% of British Hindus. Organised by Action for Harmony, this event marked a historic moment for the Hindu community in Britain, enabling structured dialogue with policymakers in the heart of Westminster.

Executive Summary


The programme, hosted across two sessions, combined spiritual reflection, cultural expression, and policy dialogue. It highlighted the immense contribution of British Hindus to national life while setting out key community concerns around identity, security, education, representation, and social inclusion.


The event received cross-party support, with presentations from parliamentarians including Baroness Verma, Lord Sewell, Bob Blackman MP, Gareth Thomas MP, Jack Rankin MP, Lord Popat. Full list of attendees is attached..


This event created a new precedent for Hindu–Parliament engagement, establishing the Hindu community as a collaborative and constructive partner in shaping the UK’s multicultural future.


Background & Purpose


British Hindus make up over 1.2 million people (approx. 1.7% of the UK population), contributing significantly to the economy, healthcare, education, business, technology, and cultural life. Despite this, the community has often felt underrepresented in policymaking and misrepresented in public discourse.


Key catalysts for this event included:

The Leicester disturbances of 2022, where Hindu voices were sidelined.


● Exclusion from critical policy consultations (e.g., cremation laws, religious provisions).


● Media narratives that often generalise Hindus within the broader “Asian” label.


● Increasing concerns over hate crimes, safeguarding of children, and representation in schools.


Action for Harmony, established in 2023, sought to address this gap by creating a professional and representative voice for British Hindus. The In Conversation event was designed to:


● Showcase Hindu contributions to British society.


● Articulate community needs and challenges directly to parliamentarians.


● Foster partnerships for long-term collaboration.


● Launch a platform for ongoing dialogue and representation.


Event Structure


Session One


● Compere & Opening: Mita Samani (Chinmaya Mission UK)


● Prayers: Prof. Lakshmanan Shivakumar (Chinmaya Mission UK)


● Welcome Address: Baroness Verma


● Setting the Context: Vinay Tanna (Garner Hancock Solicitors, ISKCON Trustee)


● Community Presentation: Nitin Palan MBE (Action for Harmony)


● Concluding Remarks: Bob Blackman MP


● Additional remarks from Lord Popat


Session Two


● Compere & Opening: Jayminiben Patel (Brahmakumaris) – moment of reflection


● Welcome Address: Gareth Thomas MP


● Setting the Context: Dr. Mayank Shah (BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir)


● Community Presentation: Nilesh Solanki (Action for Harmony)


● Concluding Remarks: Lord Sewell


Attendance Highlights


● MPs Confirmed: 27+ across Conservative, Labour, SNP, and Liberal Democrats


● Community Leaders Confirmed: 45+ representing temples, cultural bodies, interfaith organisations, and educational institutions


● Representation spanned London, Midlands, Scotland, and beyond.


Key Messages from the Event


1. Hindu Contributions to British Society


● Over 100,000 Hindus in the NHS and healthcare sector.


● Significant contributions in business, finance, and technology (including founders of major UK firms).


● Cultural events like Diwali at Trafalgar Square and the upcoming Royal Albert Hall Diwali Celebration.


● Grassroots volunteerism and interfaith work, reflecting values of Seva (selfless service) and community harmony.


2. Concerns & Community Needs


Identity ● Hindus seek recognition as British Hindus, not under a generic “Asian” category.


● Policies and data collection should reflect specific identities.


Security & Justice


● Release the Leicester riots report in full to restore confidence.


● Stronger police response to anti-Hindu hate crimes.


● Equitable funding for security of Hindu temples.


Education & Media


● Improved RE curriculum and teacher training on Hinduism.


● Greater accountability for media misrepresentation of Hindu practices and values.


● Optional teaching of mother languages for Hindu children.


Safeguarding & Social Issues


● Addressing targeted grooming of Hindu girls.


● Culturally appropriate foster care placements.


● Greater support for elderly care, heating, and home assistance.


Religious Practices


● Inclusion in consultations on cremation policies.


● Visa access for priests to serve in UK temples.


Political Engagement & Responses


● Baroness Verma urged deeper recognition of Hindu voices beyond election cycles. ● Gareth Thomas MP highlighted opportunities for inclusive policy development.


● Vinay Tanna & Dr. Mayank Shah stressed the need for proactive Hindu engagement in politics.


● Nitin Palan & Nilesh Solanki presented the   Action for Harmony   vision, urging structured collaboration with government.


● Lord Sewell commended Hindu values of Family, Religion, Education, and Entrepreneurship as guiding principles for integration.


● Bob Blackman MP reaffirmed the APPG for British Hindus’ commitment to amplifying Hindu concerns in Westminster.


Notable MPs such as Seema Malhotra, Baggy Shanker, Louie French, Jack Rankin and Lord Popat also lent their support, signalling broad cross-party recognition.


Impact & Outcomes


Immediate Impact


● Visibility: Hindu issues and contributions formally discussed in Parliament for the first time at this scale.


● Unity: Representation of over 65% of British Hindus through Action for Harmony.


● Policy Engagement: Key asks placed directly before MPs, including on security, education, and community recognition.


Long-Term Outcomes


● Strengthened APPG for British Hindus with renewed purpose.


● Commitment from MPs to engage with Hindu representatives at both national and constituency levels.


● Momentum for upcoming events, including the National Hindu Conference (Sept 2025) and Diwali at Royal Albert Hall.


● Established a framework for annual Hindu–Parliament dialogue. Voices from the Event


● “Hindus in the UK have lived like sugar in milk — enriching society without displacing anyone.” Baroness Verma


● “We need structured engagement so Hindu voices are no longer absent from national debates.” Nitin Palan


● “Our values of family, education, and entrepreneurship (FREE) make us natural partners in building Britain’s future.” – Lord Sewell


● “This is only the beginning — Hindus must continue to engage with MPs locally and nationally.” Bob Blackman MP


Conclusion & Next Steps


The In Conversation with the British Hindus event was a historic success, laying the foundation for deeper, more constructive dialogue between British Hindus and Parliamentarians.


Next Steps:


● Formal Report Submission – sharing this document with MPs, government departments, and community organisations.


● Follow-Up Consultations – on Leicester report, education, temple security, Islamophobia - a legislation to be inclusive of all religions and safeguarding.


● Identity– Being branded as ASIAN, Anti Hindu Hate and Hindutva Narratives


● Strengthen APPG Engagement – ensuring Hindu perspectives are represented in debates and inquiries.


● Annual Dialogue – institutionalising this event as a recurring fixture in Parliament.


● Crematorium - Work with Lord Popat with need for further Hindu Crematoriums and pick up the conversation from 3 years ago


● Action For Harmony to begin the process of setting up relationships in Education, Foreign , Health and other departments so there is an awareness of issues that we can enter into a dialogue with.


British Hindus left Parliament with a renewed sense of recognition and commitment, confident that their voice is being heard. The message was clear: British values and Hindu values are one and the same —


Attendee List - Lords - MPs - Councillors - Community Leaders

Ayoub Khan MP Independent Birmingham Perry Barr

Baroness Prashar Runnymede, Surrey

Chris Turner by ( Representing Baron Wajid Khan) PA Ministry of Housing and Community

Baroness Verma APPG BH Conservative Sutton Coldfield

Bob Blackman MP APPG BH Conservative Harrow East

David Pinto‑Duschinsky MP Labour Hendon

Dierdre Costigan MP APPG BH Labour Ealing Southall

Gareth Thomas MP Labour Harrow West

Jack Rankin MP Conservative Windsor

Jim Shanon Democratic Unionist Party Strangford (Northern Ireland)

Liam James Dean (Senior Parliamentary Assistant) Shivani Raja Conservative Leicester East

Lord Gadhia Northwood

Lord Popat Conservative Harrow

Lord Sewell Sanderstead

Louie French MP - APPG BH Conservative Old Bexley and Sidcup

Luke Murphy MP Labour Basingstoke

Luke Taylor MP - APPG Liberal Democrats Sutton and Cheam

Mat Western Labour Party Warwick and Leamington

Matthew APPG Assistant Louie

Matthew Glude Assistant

Neil Hudson Conservative Epping Forest

Seema Malhotra MP Labour Feltham and Heston

Sonia Kumar MP Labour Dudley

Susan Murray MP - APPG BH Liberal Democrats Mid Dunbartonshire

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP Labour Slough

Theresa Villiers Barnet London

Councillors

Cllr Parveen Rani Labour Borehamwood, Hertfordshire

Cllr Kantilal Rabadia Conservative Kenton West

Mayor Prerna Lau Bhardwaj Conservative Buckinghamshire

Cllr Prish Sharma Conservative Shirley West


Community and Organisations Leaders

Ashok Verma Businessman

Kailash Parekh MBE Lancashire Creative Common Wealth Association

Ashish Channawar INSIGHT UK

Kamlesh Patel Businessman

Ashvin Patel Chairman West Midlands Hindu Forum

Mayaji Sonia Foster care

Bharat Sodha President Lohana Samaj UK

Mehool Sanghrajka One Jain

Dhiraj D Shah Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK

Miss Swati Shukla Brahma Kumaris

Dilip Shah One Jain

Mita Samani Chinmaya UK

Dipak Naik Balaji Temple, Birmingham

Nilesh Solanki Action for Harmony Director

Dr Mayank Shah BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha

Nitin Palan MBE Action for Harmony Director

Girish Patel BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha

Piyush Mistry Shree Prajapati Association UK

Heena Solanki Hindu Support Network

Pravar Petkar International Centre for Sustainability

Hridesh Gupta Indian Diaspora

Prof Atul K Shah London School of Economics

Jagannadha Pawan India Knowledge Consortium

Prof Bharat Pankhania Head of Public Health Medicine Teaching

JagdishBhai Patel Federation of Patidar Association

Prof Shiva Kumar Chinmaya UK

Janhavi Dadarkar Hindu Lawyer

Prof. Sunil Poshakwale Indian Knowledge Consortium

Jas Sharma Hindu Council Central England

Rahul Prakash Isha Foundation

Jaymini Patel BK Brahma Kumaris

Rajesh Govind Willesden Swaminarayan Mandir

Jesbir Kaur Uppal Lawyer

Richa Sinha Scottish Hindu Foundation

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