No10 forced to apologise after meat and alcohol served at Diwali celebration

Press reports successful India said immoderate British Hindu guests were near offended erstwhile beer, vino and lamb were offered astatine the yearly Downing Street reception held past month

No10 has been forced to contented an apology aft nutrient and intoxicant were served astatine a Diwali celebration.

Press reports successful India said immoderate British Hindu guests were near offended erstwhile beer, vino and lamb were offered astatine the yearly Downing Street reception. Hinduism does not person a wide prohibition connected intoxicant oregon nutrient consumption, but galore Hindus take not to portion and immoderate are besides vegetarian.

No10 said connected Friday a "mistake" had been made successful the organisation of the lawsuit and sought to guarantee the assemblage "it volition not hap again".

A Number 10 spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister was pleased to invited a scope of communities celebrating Diwali to a reception successful Downing Street. He paid tribute to the immense publication the British Hindu, Sikh & Jain communities marque to our state and however the authorities is driven by the shared values of hard work, ambition and aspiration.

"A mistake was made successful the organisation of the event. We recognize the spot of feeling connected this contented and truthful would apologise to the assemblage and guarantee them it volition not hap again."

The Downing Street Diwali lawsuit has taken spot since 2009 and past twelvemonth was held by the UK's archetypal Hindu PM Rishi Sunak. But this year's solemnisation prompted complaints from UK Hindus including Shivani Raja, the Conservative MP for Leicester East, who said she was "greatly concerned" to perceive astir the event.

In a missive to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Ms Raja had said she was "greatly concerned" to perceive that attendees of this year's solemnisation were offered nutrient and alcohol.

"I consciousness this speaks poorly against the organisation of this year's lawsuit - with a disappointing deficiency of cognition of the customs and traditions that galore British citizens clasp dear," she added.

"As a practising Hindu, representing thousands of Hindus wrong my ain constituency of Leicester East, I person been profoundly saddened to perceive that this year's festivities were overshadowed successful the top Office of State by negativity, arsenic a effect of this oversight." She added connected Friday: "Pleased to spot 10 Downing Street apologise to the assemblage implicit their Diwali debacle. My connection of assistance inactive stands".