Parmjit Singh Gill MP welcomed to Hounslow Gurdwara

7.18.04pm GMT Tue 1st Mar 2005

Andrew Dakers Lib Dem prospective MP for Brentford & Isleworth, Parmjit Singh Gill MP, Satnam Kaur Khalsa Lib Dem prospective MP for Feltham & Heston, Harjinder Singh and members of the parbandhak committee

Parmjit Singh Gill, Liberal Democrat MP for Leicester South, was today welcomed at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Hounslow. Parmjit was joined by Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem prospective MP for Brentford & Isleworth and Satnam Kaur Khalsa, Lib Dem prospective MP for Feltham and Heston. Together Parmjit, Andrew and Satnam spent an hour meeting the Gurdwara's women's group and touring the Gurdwara.

The Gurdwara has on a number of occasions invited councillors and council staff to inform them about Sikhs and Sikhi. Parmjit, Andrew and Satnam took the opportunity to ask the women, and the parbandhak committee members present, what their concerns are. Issues raised included the right of Sikhs to where kirpans, racial abuse, university tuition fees and healthcare.

Parmjit Singh Gill MP said:

"I am very impressed with the amount of local support behind Andrew, Satnam and the Liberal Democrats. Clearly there is great momentum building across the Borough of Hounslow with support moving away from Labour to the Liberal Democrats."

Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem prospective MP for Brentford & Isleworth, added:

"For Hounslow's Sikh community the Gurdwaras are an important place of worship and a wonderful heart to their community. All of Hounslow's residents benefit from the cultural richness that the Gurdwaras and Sikh community add to Hounslow's diverse culture.

Satnam Kaur Khalsa (Lib Dem prospective MP for Feltham & Heston), Parmjit Singh Gill (Lib Dem MP for Leicester South) and Andrew Dakers (Lib Dem prospective MP for Brentford & Isleworth) outside the Gurdwara

"It is clear from the conversations we have had that the issues that matter to Liberal Democrats: the cost of tuition fees, the war in Iraq, unfair council tax and the need to improve preventative healthcare, also resonate with many Sikhs."