LONDON: A British Punjabi Hindu MP has come under fire for not taking an oath of allegiance to the Crown on the Bhagavad Gita during the swearing-in at the House of Commons.

Virendra Sharma, 72, who represents Ealing Southall, made the solemn affirmation instead of taking a religious oath.

MPs cannot take their seats, speak in debates, vote or receive a salary until they take oath or affirmation. They could be fined £500 and have their seat declared vacant.

Born in Mandalhi in Punjab to a Hindu family, Virendra Sharma, a Labour MP since 2007, is vice-chair of the APPG for British Hindus, which aims to support and promote the interests of British Hindus.

OATH ON GITA

Solemn declarations by all 5 Pbi Labour MPs

General Secretary of the National Council of Hindu Temples UK Satish K Sharma told TOI: “It’s an anomaly that Virendra Sharma, who politically flaunts Hindu Brahmin credentials to garner support from the British Hindus in his constituency and while engaging with the Indian government, would choose not to take his oath on any Hindu scripture, choosing instead the atheist confirmation. He should offer clarification of what his religious beliefs are.”

The other four Labour Punjabi MPs – Seema Malhotra, Tan Dhesi, Preet Gill and Nadia Whittome – also made solemn declarations, as did Hindu Punjabi Gagan Mohindra, a newlyelected Conservative MP. Whittome told TOI: “I’m a baptised Catholic but I don’t follow any religion.”

Seven of the eight PIO Labour MPs made solemn affirmations. Only Valerie Vaz MP - of Goan descent - swore an oath, in her case, on the Bible.

In contrast, of the seven Conservative PIO MPs, six took oaths on holy books. Alok Sharma, Rishi Sunak and Shailesh Vara, took oaths on the Bhagavad Gita. Claire Countinho and home secretary Priti Patel took oaths on the Bible whilst Suella Braverman took an oath on the Dhammapada.

Satish Sharma said that because notes in the Equality Act 2010 “still target and denigrate the Hindu community, by name" it is "critical that voters are fully aware of the religious convictions of their MPs and of all indicators, the sacred oath of office provides a unique glimpse of these convictions." He added that “Virendra Sharma openly portrays his Hindu credentials, which the other PIO Hindu MPs such as Priti Patel and Seema Malhotra do not.”

Conservative MP Bob Blackman, who is not of Indian-origin, but who represents Harrow East, which has a large Hindu population, took his oath on both the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita.

Virendra Sharma told TOI he was a “proud Hindu”. “I always did this. I represent my constituents whatever their religion, as such I chose to affirm my oath as an MP with a non-religious vow. I believe faith is a private and personal thing... I believe we need to bring communities together in Britain today, and religion should not be used to divide us.”

In Ealing, 16% of the population is Muslim, 9% Hindu, 8% Sikh and 14% British Indian.

Even though the Sundar Gutka is routinely available for swearing in, British Sikh MPs Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Preet Gill, also made solemn affirmations.

Jasvir Singh OBE, Chair of City Sikhs, said: “While some Sikhs may be inclined to take an oath on the holy scriptures, most religious Sikhs would not take such an oath as they would consider it as going against the teachings of the faith.”

Dabinderjit Singh OBE, principle adviser for the Sikh Federation (UK), added: “We knew the two British Sikh MPs would take a solemn affirmation as this is an affirmation to the Queen. It is slightly odd to take an oath on the Holy Scripture. We are of the same view when Sikhs go to court. We think it is better not to bring religion into it.”

