London: A growing number of British Hindus are voicing concerns over delays in obtaining visas for religious workers, leading to the closure of several temples and disruptions in religious services. This comes amidst criticism of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government, which has faced accusations of inaction despite his own Hindu heritage.
The Tier-5 religious worker visa process is reportedly experiencing delays, impacting the ability of temples to recruit and retain priests. This has resulted in the closure of approximately 50 temples out of 500 in Britain, affecting religious ceremonies and community services.
Hindus in Britain, estimated to number around 2 million, rely on priests for various religious functions, including temple services, housewarmings, and weddings. The visa delays are causing significant inconvenience and disruption to their religious practices.
Sunak’s government has been criticized for its handling of the issue. Some, like Sunil Sharma, assistant priest at the Laxminarayan Temple in Birmingham, expressed disappointment, stating, “Being a Hindu, Rishi Sunak will understand our problems. But the government has failed to do so so far.”
Several temples have faced specific challenges due to visa issues:
- Ram Mandir, Birmingham: An incorrect expiry date on the priest’s biometric residence permit led to his premature departure.
- Laxminarayan Temple, Birmingham: The temple was forced to close after the priest’s visa was not renewed. His wife’s visa application was also denied without explanation.
- Shrijidham Mansion, Leicester: A faulty translation of the priest’s interview hampered his visa application, causing delays.
The joint temple group has raised the issue with relevant authorities, and Labour MP Gareth Thomas has urged the government to expedite Tier-5 visa processing. Additionally, there is a call to extend the visa duration from two to three years.