My political journey

I have always believed that the Asian Community should play an active role in the nation’s life, whatever the party of choice. In 1974 I joined the Conservative Party. At that time there were very few Asians in it. I worked with others to connect Asians and the Conservative Party. It was hard work, to begin with…

Along with the late Baroness Flather and the late Narendra Swarup CBE, I asked the Party if we could form an Anglo-Asian Conservative Society. We approached Asians across the country and formed branches. I formed a branch in my own area in the Reading area, with nearly 200 members. We approached the Reading East Conservative Association to have a Branch representative attend the Association's Executive Council. To my surprise, the Chairman replied, 'We don't recognise this Branch.' It was a shock and setback to me. We encouraged our branch members to join the Park Ward Branch of Reading East. As Chairman of this Branch I was able to attend the Executive Council of the Association. I have to say the members did not give me a warm welcome! I began to give my input and worked hard to bring in more Asians as members of the Conservative Party. So when I stood for various posts my work was recognised and I was elected Vice Chairman and later Chairman. I was the first Asian to be recognised for leading a well-run Association (at that time Reading was a very large Association). I became the first Asian to be elected Area Chairman and then a member of the National Executive Council of the Conservative Party, representing the Wessex Area. At that time the Executive Council was made up of about 70 members representing the Areas and they ran the Party, rather than the MPs. Since then the rules have changed.

I am glad to say that since those early days, many Asians have been elected as MPs and Cabinet Ministers, including our current Prime Minister.

Another initiative was the Conservative Parliamentary Friends of India.

Conservative Parliamentary Friends of India: This was started in 1999, with the aim of increasing business between India and the UK. Peter Luff MP was appointed Chairman and the Indian High Commissioner in London was very supportive.. He arranged a delegation to India at the invitation of the Government of India, who paid all the expenses. It was a successful trip. We had various meetings with Indian businesses, visited the border areas with Pakistan in order to understand the security situation, and saw many historic places.