Duncan Smith's Indian connection fails to impress

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, AUG. 29. He was born in Chennai when it was Madras, his father spoke Tamil, and his grandfather could talk to the natives in Hindi. Good enough reason for Asian Conservatives to vote for Mr. Ian Duncan Smith in the Tory leadership election?

That's what his supporters thought until they came face to face with a group of outspoken ethnic Tories who told them they were more interested in Mr. Duncan Smith's agenda than his Indian/Asian ``connection''. They were clearly disturbed by reports that some in his camp had links with racist groups and wanted to be assured that such elements would be rooted out. ``We told them that the presence of such people in the party is not acceptable,'' said Mr. Ranbir Singh Suri, chairman of the British Asian Conservative Link which had invited Mr. Duncan Smith and his rival in the leadership contest, Mr. Kenneth Clarke to hear their views.

Mr. Singh told The Hindu that there was growing concern among Asian Tories that the party was turning to the Right and recent disclosures relating to the links of some members with the far Right British National Party and other such groups were deeply disturbing. ``We are a bit scared and we told them that this would not do,'' he said adding, however, that there was general appreciation that Mr. Duncan Smith moved quickly to expel one of his leading supporters after he was found to be connected with the BNP. He pointed out that in recent years the Asian community's support for the Tories had declined, and at the last general election held in June this year, more Asians voted for either Labour or Liberal Democrats.

About 200 Asian Tories, mostly affluent businessmen and their families, attended the Link meeting at which the two leaders were greeted with the best ``desi'' hospitality, complete with presentation of ``saropas'' to both, but behind the show of bonhomie there was simmering discontent. Apart from their concern over race relations and the growing perception that the party was going soft on racism, the Asian hosts of Mr. Duncan Smith and Mr. Clarke were upset that they were not getting a fair deal in the organisation. There was a feeling that they had been let down by the leadership, and treated as second class citizens when it came to giving positions in the party.

``The formation of the British Asian Conservative Link is an indictment of the present system where Asians feel that the party of their natural values had let them down,'' the Link general secretary, Mr. Rami Ranger said. He complained that there was not a single Asian or black Tory MP. ``We have enriched the commercial life of our nation and, if given the chance, we can do the same to our political system,'' he said. Mr. Singh said Asians had proved themselves as good businessmen and were honest taxpayers and yet they were sidelined in the political process. While Asians were fielded in elections, they were given seats which were ``impossible'' to win, he said with the result that Asian Tories were not represented in Parliament.

Ms. Surina Narula, a high-profile campaigner for a number of charities, told The Daily Telegraph that she was turned down for a Tory party ticket and told to concentrate first on fund- raising. She said she found the attitude ``patronising'' as she had helped a great deal in the party's attempt to improve its links with ethnic minorities. The newspaper said many Asians ``now find it hard to see the Conservative Party as the party of a multi-cultural Britain.''

Duncan Smith loyalists such as the Tory Member of European Parliament, Mr. Nirj Deva, however, maintained that his family links with India were important to the Asian community. ``He is very much for us,'' he said pointing out that ``his father spoke Tamil... and his grandfather also lived in India and spoke Hindi.'' Yet, it seemed that the mood among Asian Tories was in favour of the more cosmopolitan Mr. Clarke.

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Section  : International
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