AN Indian community group has demanded a public apology from Slough Borough Council (SBC) for approving a motion on Kashmir.

The Slough Indian Solidarity Group (SISG), a community group focusing on bringing unity among the different Indian heritage communities within the borough, wrote a letter to the leader of SBC councillor James Swindlehurst – criticising him for allowing the motion to pass in full council.

Councillor Swindlehurst dismissed this claim saying it was passed democratically and he has the same voting right as the other 41 members in SBC.

The Kashmir motion was passed at a full council meeting on February 27 where a majority of members approved plans to write to the Indian High Commissioner, as well as the Slough MP Tan Dhesi, urging India to lift controls over the Kashmiri population.

SISG also accused the council leader of being ‘biased’ for focusing on one portion of the Kashmiri population as well as breaching the council code of conduct through improper use of the council’s position, misuse of council facilities or resources, and disreputable conduct by attempting to interfere in the affairs of Kashmir.

The leader argued the motion came after a full council meeting on this year’s budget resulting in no additional costs and misuse of the facilities.

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The letter states: “Slough BC, as a local government organisation, has no business interfering in the legitimate affairs of a democratically elected government of any other country in particular India.

“Slough BC needs to focus its efforts and resources on the need of not only the Kashmiris, but also the other local people whom they serve including the English, Indians as well as people of all other ethnicities.”

Councillor James Swindlehurst wrote a letter in response and said: “Slough has a very large Kashmiri community and ongoing tensions and potential developments in the Province are a concern for many of our residents.

“Thus it was entirely appropriate that the council heard this issue as elected representatives of this community- and of all communities in Slough.”