Asian Voice

28 August 2004

Code of Conduct

Baroness Shreela Flather rather smugly informs us that she told the Queen about the position of women in the Swaminarayan movement.

Shreela flatters herself if she thinks that she is a personal adviser to the Queen! Some politicians do think that are god’s answer to everything! She should humbly reflect on her position: she is an unelected member of the House of Lords.

The Lords are essential to British democracy but it does not mean that people like Shreela should think that they will be taken seriously when they make ill- informed and ignorant comments about one of the most dynamic sects of Hinduism-the Swaminarayan Hindu Mission. Prince Charles, Lady Diana and countless heads of state and dignitaries have been to the Neasden temple and have been amazed at what they have seen and learnt by being there. Tens of thousands of tourists and school children from all over the country also visit the temple to learn more about Hinduism.

The BBC too recently tried to undermine the Sai Baba and his movement with vindictive documentary and in the process lost a lot of credibility. The Hare Krishna movement has also been targeted in a similar way in the past. Shreela has lost a lot of credibility by making negative comments about the Swaminarayan movement without bothering to check the accuracy of her perceived opinion.

I suggest that she should contact the Swaminarayan womens wing and humbly request to be informed about the rich and rewarding role that women play in the Swaminarayan movement and the very strict codes odf conduct for the monks who are the spiritual guides of the movement.

Nitin Mehta MBE