BNP set to sign first non-white member (he's an anti-Islamic Sikh who once gave a character reference for Nick Griffin)



An elderly Sikh who blames Muslims for the death of his father is set to become the British National Party's first non-white member.

Rajinder Singh, an anti-Islamic activist who describes the religion as a 'beast', has lent his support to the far-right party for the last decade even though he currently remains barred from joining because of the colour of his skin.

But he will soon be able to sign up as a fully-fledged BNP member after the party last weekend began the process of changing its constitution so its membership rules do not discriminate on the grounds of race or religion.

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Mr Singh once provided a character reference for Nick Griffin during his racial hatred trial. He said he would be 'honoured' to join the party.

However in the video posted at the bottom of this page, Mr Griffin suggests paying Sikhs to return to India.

He said: 'Lots of Sikhs would go home and West London wouldn't be so crowded at rush hour time. Everybody's happy.'



BNP spokesman John Walker said Mr Singh would be the ideal first non-white candidate to join the party.



He said: 'I suggested it myself - if we're going to do this [open up BNP membership to non-whites] then Rajinder Singh would be a good person to sign up.'



'Mr Singh has been supportive of the party for years.



'He's here [in Britain] not to throw his weight around, he's here under our protection.

'He fully accepted our membership criteria. He said "You have the right as a people to defend yourself in a 'manly' fashion."'

Mr Singh was born in Lahore, Pakistan, but fled communal tensions and came to Britain in 1967.



The former teacher from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, is openly anti-Muslim after his father was killed during the Partition of India in 1947.



He has believed for the last decade that the BNP can be persuaded to accept Sikhs as British.

'I am a retired teacher, living a quiet life,' he told The Independent. 'I got in touch with the BNP on certain core policies that appeal to me.

'I also admire them since they are on their own patch and do not wish to let anyone else oust them from the land of their ancestors.'

"I come from partitioned Punjab that saw a lot of bloodshed in 1947,' he added. 'Anyone escaping that genocide would pray to God, say never again and vote for BNP.'

Mainstream Sikh groups said they were appalled by Mr Singh's involvement with the BNP.



Dr Indarjit Singh, director of the Network of Sikh Organisations, said: 'Sikhism stresses equality for all human beings.



'Therefore Sikhs who are true to their faith, will having nothing whatsoever to do with any party that favours any one section of the community.'

Martin Wingfield, the BNP's communications and campaigns officer, is already preparing to welcome Mr Singh into the fold.



He wrote to members on the party's website: 'I say adapt and survive and give the brave and loyal Rajinder Singh the honour of becoming the first ethnic minority member of the BNP.'

In December 2001 Mr Singh and another Sikh from Slough who goes under the name of Ammo Singh announced their intention to set up an Asian Friends of the BNP group to act as a supporting body and conduit for funds for people sympathetic to the party's anti-Islamic stance.

The party had little success and was widely condemned by Sikh and Hindu groups.





Nick Griffin offers his views on Sikhs: