SEE INSIDE .... Indian PM announces $ 5 billion aid to Africa: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh offered $5 billion for the Africa’s development over the next three years. Hosting the second Africa-India Forum summit in Addis Ababa, the first to be held overseas, Singh said, “There is a new economic growth story emerging from Africa”, The PM said. (Report on page 23) Hazare team, government clash over Lokpal Bill: Civil Society members led by Anna Hazare and the government representatives were at loggerheads on virtually every contentious issue at the meeting of the joint drafting committee of the Lokpal Bill. (Report on page 27)
VOL 40. ISSUE 5
FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE
VOICE
Let noble thoughts come to us from every side
80p
Scrapping the Right to Appeal is unjustified, we are taking a stand The leaked government proposal to scrap the Right to Appeal for 'Family visit' visas has received severe criticism from the UK's ethnic minority community. Coalition's inappropriate plans to cap the inflow of migrants have reignited controversy between the government and the members of the South Asian community, who are most likely to be affected by the measure. Thus, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar has
launched a campaign to protest against these arbitrary plans which will see overseas relatives lose their Right to Appeal to attend family events like weddings, anniversaries, funerals etc. According to the proposal, more than 80,000 overseas relatives who are refused visas will be denied the right to appeal. The Coalition's pro-
posal is predicated on the grounds that many relatives come to the UK using family visit visas and never return to the countries of their origin. In 2010, more than 420,000 visa applications were made by overseas relatives, with 350,000 visas granted at the first instance. From the one's rejected, 63,000 were applied Keith Vaz MP and Habib Rahman are opposing again with the 'Right to Coalition's plan Appeal', out of which another 36 percent were right of appeal removed. With the then granted visa. Granting visas to majority of family visitor visas issued these 36 percent while rejecting to relatives of the UK’s large South them on the first place has called for Asian community, this decision a need to stabilise Home Office's would affect every Asian family in decision-making process and the UK. The family visit visa is also strengthen UKBA's exit policies generally only valid for 6 months rather than scrapping the Right to and therefore does not impact net Appeal. migration figures.” In a letter to Immigration During the launch of FBI magaMinister, Damian Green, Keith Vaz zine at the House of Commons on MP has raised concern on similar 19th May, CB Patel, Editor and grounds. He states, “fact that 36% of Publisher, Asian Voice and Gujarat the decisions are reversed on appeal, Samachar, it indicates that decision-making needs to be improved rather than the Continued on page 5
4th June to 10th June 2011
Sikh protesters trash their own community centre for selling meat and alcohol
Two hundred Sikh protesters trashed their own community centre in a violent protest against the sale of meat and alcohol at a private party. The violent scenes flared after a peaceful protest turned ugly when members of the mob clashed with police trying to calm the situation on Saturday. Police from all over the West Midlands were called to the Sikh Cultural Centre in Dudley in a bid to deal with the angry protesters thought to be from the UK Sangat - which protests against code breaking temples.
A police chopper had to be scrambled to monitor the violent scenes from above. And one policeman was left with head injuries after protesters began pelting cops with bricks, bottles and missiles. Protesters then forced their way in to the centre, barricaded themselves inside and trashed the centre - causing "significant" damage. The tense five hour stand-off also left two demonstrators nursing head injuries and another policeman with dental injuries. Continued on page 2