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Hussain calls for end to 'insulting' groups

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Published Date: 30 May 2006
A DEWSBURY Asian councillor is calling for the scrapping of two black and Asian organisations which he says are dividing the local community and giving ammunition to the British National Party.
Councillor Karam Hussain (Lib Dem – Dewsbury West) says the first to go should be the North Kirklees Black and Asian Police Forum and the Kirklees South Asian Consortium.
He would also like to get rid of the Kirklees Racial Equality Council which was partly funded by the government, because he says it is a waste of taxpayers' money.
He also wants to launch a campaign to unite the town and put an end to any groups and organisations which might divide the community.
"Groups like this are to blame for the BNP gaining two more seats in the local elections, and I blame the Labour Party because they set them up," he said.
"The Labour government have always encouraged this kind of political correctness, and people are fed up. This is why some are turning to the BNP.
"People want to know why Asian people are getting this kind of special treatment. But Asian people didn't ask for it. They don't want these organisations.
"It's ridiculous to have a community police forum for everyone, and then set up another just for black and Asian people. Why should this be? What purpose does a separate forum serve?
"All this political correctness comes from Westminster, and local people are suffering because of it."
"Asian people have been living in this area for more than 50 years and are quite able to look after themselves. They don't want to be treated differently. They feel insulted by these groups.
"Like the rest of the community they'd rather see the money spent on getting more police officers, more doctors and nurses, more teachers, rather than on ridiculous forums like these."
Councillor Hussain admitted being bitterly disappointed with the result of the local elections which he felt left the town divided.
He said: "We have two wards with three Asian councillors in each – Dewsbury West and Dewsbury South – and one ward with three white councillors – Dewsbury East. This is not representative of the local community.
"In Dewsbury West the Lib Dems deliberately chose a white candidate. We'd have won if we'd put up an Asian candidate but we chose a white candidate, who we knew to be the best for the job.
"We always ensure we have a white councillor in Dewsbury West. We want what is best for the local community."
Members of organisations criticised by Coun Hussain have hit back, saying the job they do is vital to the local community.
Dr KH Khamas, chairman of the Black and Asian Police Forum, said: "There is no truth in this.
"This forum is very useful. It has been going for six or seven years. Good work has been done in north and south Kirklees.
"I think this forum has brought both communities together. These groups are trying to build love and peace between the two communities.
"Some people are against the police forum but most people support it - they support the relationship between the forum and the community."
Jamil Akhtar, acting chief executive of the Kirklees Racial Equality Council, said: "If anybody, regardless of race or colour, feels they are being discriminated against, we help them. We have even dealt with a case from the BNP.
"Twenty per cent of our clients are white, and we ran a project entirely for white youths with anti-social behaviour problems.
"We are a volunteer organisation and we work with the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the local authority to make sure that if anyone feels they are being discriminated against, they can be dealt with.
"We work with the whole community to help make Kirklees a nice place to live – for everybody."

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