Meat, alcohol allegedly served during British PM's Diwali party, Hindus express 'displeasure'
A large number of British Hindus expressed their displeasure after meat and alcohol were allegedly served at the Diwali party hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10, Downing Street.
Several top politicians and British Hindu leaders attended the event.
According to a post on X published by Insight UK: "This year's Diwali celebration at 10 Downing Street, hosted by PM Keir Starmer has sparked significant backlash after reports surfaced that alcohol and meat were served at the event. Without wanting to be named Hindu guests have reportedly expressed their shock and dismay at being served meat and alcohol during a religious celebration."
'The complete lack of sensitivity and simple consultation, at any level, is of great concern. If accidental, it's still disappointing. @SeemaMalhotra1 ?
— Pt Satish K Sharma MBCS FRSA FRAS (@thebritishhindu) November 10, 2024
If deliberate @UKLabour and @10DowningStreet team have again sent a message to the British Hindu community'. @Keir_Starmer may… https://t.co/GxCcXrfYr7 pic.twitter.com/czzDQfv5jq
The Insight UK is a social movement of British Hindus and Indians
During former PM Rishi Sunak's Diwali event last year, meat and alcohol were not on the menu.
𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐢 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞: 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥
— INSIGHT UK (@INSIGHTUK2) November 8, 2024
This year's Diwali celebration at 10 Downing Street, hosted by PM Keir Starmer has sparked significant backlash after reports surfaced… pic.twitter.com/13IB1WRJlE
Satish K Sharma, a prominent British Hindu pandit, said the food served during the event left him disappointed.
He said no meat and alcohol had been served during Diwali celebrations on Downing Street for the past 14 years.
"I am disappointed and quite shocked that this year's celebration seemed to be an inebriated meat-induced stupor-dominated event. It's a tragedy that the prime minister's advisers would have been so careless and negligent," he said in a video post.
10 Downing Street did not comment on the issue so far.