London, United Kingdom (October 18, 2013): According to a press release sent to the Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) by the Caste Watch UK [t]housands of people will attend a protest at Hyde Park on Saturday 19th October 2013 calling on the Government to act immediately to ensure that caste discrimination is outlawed in the UK.
It is learnt that three years after the Equality Act 2010 was passed in parliament, the UK Government has still not confirmed when the Act’s Caste Discrimination provisions will come into force. Ministers do not expect to introduce measures to Parliament until the summer of 2015 at the earliest.
According to the Caste Watch UK [o]ver 200,000 so-called lower castes who are mostly from the Indian sub-continent now settled in Britain, are adversely affected by caste based discrimination.
“There is opposition to the legislation from some sections of Asian communities who want to maintain the status quo of Caste. These communities have exerted a powerful influence on the government to procrastinate” reads the press release by the Caste Watch UK.
“Victims of Caste Based Discrimination deserve the same legal protection as those affected by discrimination on grounds of race, gender, religion and disability etc. It is unacceptable that in modern Britain, why one section of the community should discriminate against another based on outdated ancient customs and traditions. Caste victims deserve immediate protection!” Satpal Muman (Chairman) and Davinder Parsad (Secretary) of Caste Watch UK said in the press release.