UK regulator drops probe against Hindu body
Thursday, 09/07/2015
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
NCHT’S APPEAL ON ITS WEBSITE HAD EVOKED COMPLAINTS TO THE CHARITY COMMISSION, SINCE IT BREACHED RULES OF POITICAL NEUTRALITY
LONDON: Britain’s regulator of charity organisations has dropped an inquiry against an umbrella organisation representing Hindu temples in Britain that broke rules by appealing to the community before the May 7 elections to vote for the Conservative party.
The National Council of Hindu Temples UK (NCHT) assured the regulator that it will not make such political statements in future, and retain political neutrality, which is mandatory under charity rules.
In an open letter, Satish Sharma, general secretary of NCHT, had said: “The Conservative Party is the only party which has consistently listened to us and voted against this legislation and whose members are committed to repealing the caste amendment if re-elected.”
The organisation, alongwith those representing Sikh and Jain communities, has been opposing a campaign on the sensitive issue of outlawing caste-based discrimination by including ‘caste’ in British law.
NCHT’s appeal on its website had evoked complaints to the Charity Commission, since it breached rules of poitical neutrality.
A commission spokesperson told HT: “The Commission was made aware of a notice posted on the NCHT website and we contacted the charity to establish the facts of this matter, and to ask them to remove the post as a matter of urgency”.
The commission’s guidance on campaigning and political activity makes clear that a charity organisation must not give its support to any political party or candidate.
