Never Forget Bow '09 / Official Website

Reply from Oona King

24th April

Dear Mr Manmander Singh,

Thank you for your message regarding the shocking attack on the Sikh Gurdwara. As a Bow resident I was very sad to hear of this, but I was unaware of the details you mentioned.

I will certainly get in touch with the Government on behalf of the Sikh community, and will request a meeting with one of the Prime Minister's advisors responsible for religious hate crime. They will then also be able to contact the Home Office on your behalf.

Could you let me know if you represent a particular organisation, or the Gurdwara itself? If not, could you provide me with an email address for them so they can be copied into any communications that we have regarding the attack? And finally, please let me know if you've already received correspondance from any Government department.

Thank you for getting in touch. I'm sorry the Sikh community has endured such a distressing event, and I hope to be of help.

Kind regards,

Oona

Oona King

Reply from Liberal Democrats

24th April

Dear Mr Singh,

I am writing to express my extreme condolences for the fire at the Gurdwara last month. I apologise for not being in touch before now but I have been away in Australia.

I have spoken with the Chief Executive of Tower Hamlets Council, Mr Martin Smith and asked him to keep me informed about the progress of the Police investigation. Like you I am concerned that the Police should treat this crime as a hate crime and as a serious violent attack on a religious group, not merely a property crime.

I am unsure as to any other ways in which we might help. I would be very happy to meet with you and discuss the ways in which we can support the Sikh part of our community at this very stressful and grief stricken time. Should you wish to do this please either respond to this email or feel free to ring me on: 07941 303 976.

With our great respect and sympathy at this time,

Stephanie Eaton
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group
London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Reply from John Redwood

24th April

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Reply from George Galloway's office

15th April

My apologies again for the delay in writing to you again about the terrible fire at the Gurdwara and the ensuing investigation of the fire. As I said before, I am limited in what I can say to you about the police investigation for fear of compromising its success and any future prosecution. I can say that we were given a very thorough and convincing rundown of the very considerable measures that have been taken to identify the exact causes and to track down any suspects. To give one example, three different sets of forensic experts were brought in to examine the source and the causes of the fire at a very early stage and to identify any evidence and clues which could then be used in the enquiry.

George Galloway remains in regular contact with the police and Respect councillors have also tabled a motion for the Tower Hamlets full council meeting on 22nd April which we are sure all councillors would support. I reproduce the motion below.

BOW GURDWARA FIRE
Moved by Councillor Fozol Miah, seconded by Councillor Abjol Miah
This council notes

a) the terrible fire which destroyed the Gurdwara Sikh Sangat, Harley Grove, Bow on 16th March 2009
b) the anguish, upset and anger this has caused in the Sikh community
c) the efforts of council officers to ensure that facilities are found for the members of the Gurdwara to continue their worship
d) that the police are giving the investigation of the causes of the fire and the identification of any perpetrator a very high priority
e) that the concerns for and sympathy with the Bow Gurdwara members and the Sikh Community extends across people of all faiths and none in Tower Hamlets

This council urges

a) anyone who knows anything about the fire to contact the police and to co-operate fully in their investigation
b) the police and other authorities including the council to continue to give this issue a very high priority and to provie all teh help and support they can to the members of the Bow Gurdwara

This council expresses the utmost sympathy and solidarity with the members of the Gurdwara Sikh Sangat and the wider Sikh community for this terrible fire which has destroyed a holy place revered across all faith communities and residents of Tower Hamlets.

Should I get any further information about progress in the enquiry, I will of course let you know. I am also aware there have been attempts by Tower Hamlets council to ensure that alternative facilities for events that would have taken place in the Gurdwara are provided to the members fo the Gurdwara. There were some problems about this but there were asssurances that everything was being done to ensure that every support was being given. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if we can be of further assistance.

With best wishes,

Rob Hoveman, on behalf of George Galloway MP

Reply from George Galloway's office

07th April

"Dear Baljinder,

My name is Rob Hoveman, one of George Galloway's staff. I attended the briefing meeting last week. I will send you a longer email asap but I am having to rush off to a meeting about a serious local assault that recently took place. When I email later or tomorrow morning, I will give you all the information I am permitted to provide. Although this may not explain all of the lack of communication of which you complain, the police did make a very strong case that they could not divulge details of their enquiries for fear of compromising the investigation and thereby reducing the chances of catching anyculprit, and also of jeopardising any possible future prosecution.Defence barristers will be very quick to cite grounds for dismissal ifinformation which could compromise the court's impartiality were to get into the public domain. I appreciate this is extremely frustrating for the members of the Gurdwara and the wider Sikh Community but the case was made very powerfully that limiting public information was an absolute necessity for both reasons. It was also clear to me that the police had giventhe investigation a very high priority and the briefing itself was conducted by the most senior police officer in Tower Hamlets, the borough commander. This would not have been the case were the case not being given the highest priority. I will email later or tomorrow morning as time permits.

With best wishes, Rob"