UK Elections: Tory Candidate’s Casual Hindu Hate and Anti-India Stand, Marco Longhi Appeals to Muslims to Vote for him to Raise Kashmir ‘Azadi’ Issue

Conservative MP Marco Longhi's election leaflet has sparked controversy for its comments on Kashmir, drawing criticism for divisive rhetoric.

On July 17th, an election leaflet from Conservative Party MP Marco Longhi went viral, causing widespread controversy on social media. The leaflet was criticized for its inflammatory language about the Kashmir issue and its potential to incite religious and ethnic tensions. 

In the leaflet, Longhi addressed the Muslim community in his Dudley constituency, urging them to vote for him so he could raise the Kashmir "Azadi" issue in the UK Parliament. He specifically mentioned the re-election of India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suggesting that this would lead to "tougher times for the people of Kashmir." Longhi claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi intended to push for full statehood for Kashmir, which he argued would strip Kashmiris of their sovereign rights and special status.

Longhi also highlighted his own efforts since being elected as an MP in 2019, asserting that he has been vocal about the "Indian Government's atrocities towards the people of Kashmir." He mentioned his participation in several Kashmir-related events and his condemnation of India's actions in the region.

A particularly controversial part of the leaflet was Longhi's targeting of his Labour Party opponent, Sonia Kumar. He emphasized her surname, implying that she would not represent the interests of the Kashmiri community. The leaflet read, "Do you want someone who has consistently been supportive of Kashmiris or someone called Sonia Kumar who no one has ever heard of?"

Labour Party candidate Rajesh Agrawal condemned Longhi's leaflet, calling it a "shameful attempt to divide communities." He urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to withdraw support for Longhi’s campaign and to apologize for the divisive rhetoric. Agrawal stressed that such politics were offensive to both Muslim and Hindu communities and called for zero tolerance for such divisive tactics.

In defense of his leaflet, Longhi claimed he was merely representing the concerns of his Kashmiri constituents. He argued that Dudley has a diverse population with many residents concerned about the situation in Kashmir. Longhi framed the leaflet as part of political campaigning, asserting that he was highlighting his track record and differentiating himself from his opponent.

Sonia Kumar has not publicly responded to the leaflet. The controversy surrounding Longhi's comments has sparked a broader debate about the role of ethnicity and religion in political campaigning and the potential for such rhetoric to divide communities.

The incident underscores the sensitivity and complexity of the Kashmir issue, both within the UK and internationally. It also raises questions about the responsibilities of politicians to foster unity and avoid inflammatory language that could incite division.