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To: The Temple Management
Open Letter to the Management of Bhaktivedanta Manor
We are seeking an apology from the temple management for the ill-timed and ill-judged visit of Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and Home Secretary, Priti Patel to Bhaktivedanta Manor.
We would like the management to acknowledge that while they purport to be politically neutral and do not support any one party above another, they allowed an inappropriate political speech to be made during a very heated national election and in front of the deities and Srila Prabhupada.
Why is this important?
We want to bring to the temple managements attention the shock and dismay felt by the undersigned community, regarding the temples hosting of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, leader of the Conservative and the Home Secretary Priti Patel during a general election in early December 2019.
The head of the Communication department at the temple is quoted as saying “Bhaktivedanta Manor is a place of worship and spiritual education [and] therefore is not affiliated with any particular political party. However, we respect and honour all who want to visit here, at any time.”
However, hosting a candidate during an election has been received by many as a political act. Boris Johnson stood in our temple room in front of Srila Prabhupada and in full view of Sri Radha Gokulananda, saying,
"the values that you espouse here in this community..., I hope you don't me saying, since the election is only four days away, ...these are the values we wish to support in our Conservative party."
He then went on to say that on Thursday, the day of the election, he wanted to "get Brexit done."
He quoted his parties tag-line several times. This is a political speech at a very political time which we feel strongly that the Manor should not have allowed to happen.
Many people have claimed that this is Lord Krsna's mercy, an auspicious event, a victory for ISKCON and Hinduism in the UK and a great favour bestowed upon the community and the congregation. However, many of us are upset, confused and angry.
To allow them to make a speech exhorting their politics is unacceptable in our place of worship. The subsequent claim that the temple is not aligned to any one party is naivety at best and shameful at worst. Furthermore, if the values of these politicians are the same values that we hold as Hare Krsna devotees then we have moved very far away from those that Srila Prabhupada has given us.
It is understandable that the Manor feels like hosting politicians is a positive thing for the community. Many of us know full well the struggle it has been to be regarded as a genuine faith group, to move away from the branding of 'cult,' but there are many, many other days that Johnson and Patel could have visited if their attraction to the temple and its perceived 'values' is real. But hosting them four days before an incredibly important election and allowing a campaign speech in the temple room is irresponsible, offensive and divisive.
We need these actions to be considered so that in future; political speeches are not made in the temple room and the Manor holds true to their politically neutral stance.'
