This evening Michael attended an event at Northampton College, Booth Lane, to launch the plans for a new Hindu temple in Northampton North.
He was joined by Keith Vaz MP who is the Labour MP for Leicester East and Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, which Michael has served on for over three years. Keith is also the longest serving Asian MP ever in the House of Commons and is very widely known within the Asian community nationally.
Talking of the plans Michael said:
"I have been a supporter of the plan to build a Hindu temple and community centre in Northampton since before my Election as an MP and having helped the Hindu community raise the profile of their campaign in the past I was asked by The Indian Hindu Welfare Organisation (IHWO) to approach Keith Vaz MP and invite him to Northampton for a fundraising launch for this charity project at Northampton College in Booth Lane. A presentation was delivered to a large crowd of over 150 people and Keith and I gave speeches.
"I think it’s right with some things that politicians put their party politics aside and come together for the benefit of the community- so I was delighted Mr Vaz accepted my invitation to Northampton."
The landmark Kutumb Centre is planned to be built off Lings Way and is currently in the fundraising stage for a £12 million project.
The Chairperson of the IHWO behind this project, Nellam Aggarwal Singh MBE, said: "It will be open to people of all ages and backgrounds and will encompass state-of-the-art sports, leisure, educational and enterprise facilities, as well as a spectacular Hindu temple." There will also be banqueting facilities, a crèche, lecture and theatre space and a mini cinema.
Once built this centre will be a wonderful resource not only for the Hindu community but for the entire community of Northampton.