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Journalism of Courage
Rajinder Singh,a Sikh of Indian descent,who has supported some of the controversial ideologies of a far right British political party,may become the first non-white member of the group.
The British National Party has accepted only white members since its foundation in 1982,leading to widespread accusations that it is a racist organisation. Its leader,Nick Griffin,has a conviction for inciting racial hatred.
78-year-old Singh,who provided a character reference for Griffin at his trial,said that he was a long-term supporter and was prepared to overlook the issue of racism.
“A retired schoolteacher,Singh will be put forward by the far right party executive as its first non-white member after it makes changes to its constitution,” A newspaper said yesterday.
The BNP was forced to agree to the changes in September after the Equality and Human Rights Commission took legal action against the party claiming that its rules,which restricted membership to “indigenous Caucasians”,were a breach of the Race Relations Act.
Singh,who emigrated from Punjab in 1967,said he would be honoured to join the BNP because it was the “only party which has the guts to say the word ‘Muslim’.
“I don’t hate Muslims. By definition a Sikh is supposed to love all – even the enemy,” he was quoted as saying by the British daily.
