LONDON, UK, Feb 9, 2002: Ethnic communities have condemned strongly the British Home Secretary after he urged families who arrange marriages to find partners in Britain and not in Asia, triggering a new row over multi-culturalism. Mr David Blunkett was accused of “dangerous interference” in Asian culture when he said parents and men and women taking part in arranged marriages should look for British partners. In particular, Asian women educated in Britain would be better off finding a husband who spoke English, rather than just the language of their ethnic origin, he said. Mr Blunkett, who was launching his immigration White Paper, made his controversial statement after a record numbers of spouses entered Britain last year from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other Asian countries. More than 19,800, more than double the number in 1996, came to join their husbands or wives, many of them after arranged marriages. Under the new immigration proposals unveiled by Mr Blunkett, would-be immigrants must pass English tests, take citizenship classes and make loyalty pledges. The measures are the latest in a series which ministers have brought in or want to introduce to curb the number of immigrants arriving in Britain, as well as to integrate new citizens into Britain’s way of life.
A daily summary of world news for Hindus and non-Hindus alike