The Lancashire Council of Mosques (LCM) was invited to be part of a UK wide delegation which met the Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in London recently to raise a number of concerns regarding the Gujarat atrocities.

The delegation handed a memorandum together with other materials and reports as evidence of an anti-Muslim pogrom led by the Gujarat Government's Chief Minister Mr Modi. The delegation also submitted evidence, which gave details of how the Sangh Parivar organisations in the UK and USA raise funds for the RSS and VHP.

While thanking Jack Straw for commissioning a report into the atrocities, the delegation also strongly urged the British Government to continue to put pressure on the BJP led Indian Government to protect the human rights of the Muslims and to bring to justice the perpetrators of the pogrom.

During the meeting Mr Straw emphasised that he was fully aware of the BJP's ideology. He however pointed out that dialogue with them played an important role in removing misunderstandings and promoting harmony between Muslims and Hindus in India. He reminded the delegation of how during L K Advani's visit to the UK last year he was impressed by what the British Indian Muslims had to say to him.

Mr Straw assured the delegation that the British Government is taking the Gujarat situation seriously and that he will raise the delegation's concerns with the Indian Authorities when he visits India next month.