Consultation on how to ensure legal protection against such discrimination ended this week

Campaigners are calling for the British Labour Party to clarify its position on efforts to bring caste discrimination into equality legislation, as a government consultation ended this week. They are concerned that the consultation could be used as a justification by the government to avoid legislating on the issue.

The Liberal Democrats, through their manifesto, had committed themselves to supporting the legislation. However, Labour’s manifesto had made no mention of the issue, despite calls to do so.

“Calls for caste legislation to be included in [the party’s] manifesto fell on deaf ears,” said Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, which has been campaigning on the issue.

Labour’s historic stance

He noted that the party’s historic stance on the issue had been impressive. “When in government they commissioned the report...While (he was) a backbencher, Jeremy Corbyn was actively supportive,” he said. Mr. Corbyn is a former chair of trustees of the Dalit Solidarity Network.

In 2010, when the House of Lords voted to outlaw caste discrimination through the Equality Act by calling it an aspect of “race”, just like colour, nationality, and ethnic origin, Mr. Corbyn had led a parliamentary ‘early day motion’ to push for the House of Commons to implement the legislation.

“Yet since [Mr. Corbyn] became leader, and noticeably (become) even more keen to build relations (with other communities), there has been a deafening silence on caste,” said Mr. Wood. “Let us hope that Mr. Corbyn doesn’t feel subject to the same pressures as his Conservative colleagues to appease the rising Hindu Right and Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi. Unless he speaks out soon, that will be the conclusion that will be drawn,” he said.

The Labour Party did not respond to repeated attempts by The Hindu to get clarity on its current position on the issue and why the issue was not included in its manifesto.

Period of consultation

The consultation on ensuring “appropriate and proportionate legal protection” against unlawful discrimination because of a person’s origins began in March and, because of the general election, was extended beyond an initial 16-week period to September 18.

The issue has attracted a high level of interest within the U.K.’s Indian-origin community, with people on both sides of the debate voicing their opinion.

Religious organisations representing Hindu and Sikh groups and others have objected to the legislation, arguing that it is discriminatory and that protections already exist. Those in favour of the legislation argue that consultation is unnecessary, given that a previous survey had already been carried out suggesting the existence of discrimination in Britain.