Conservative Member of Parliament Bob Blackman has reaffirmed his oath of office, pledging allegiance to King Charles while holding both the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita. This dual oath-taking ceremony, reminiscent of his 2019 pledge on the Gita, underscores Mr. Blackman’s commitment to his constituents and their diverse beliefs.
In a video shared on social media platform X, the 68-year-old expressed pride in swearing allegiance to King Charles “on the King James Bible and the Gita.” The footage captured Mr. Blackman holding both religious texts during the solemn event.
Representing the Harrow East constituency, which boasts a significant Hindu population, Mr. Blackman’s decision to incorporate the Gita into his oath-taking ritual can be viewed as a gesture aimed at connecting with Hindu voters.
Mr. Blackman, a staunch advocate for Hindu rights, recently criticized British media coverage of the Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya. He accused outlets like the BBC of biased reporting, alleging they overlooked the temple’s 2000-year-old history in favor of focusing solely on the destruction of a mosque. This, he argued, has stirred significant discord among Hindus worldwide.
Furthermore, Mr. Blackman’s political influence has expanded as he was recently elected Chairman of the 1922 Committee, a pivotal group tasked with selecting the next leader of the Conservative Party.
In a parallel development, Shivani Raja, of Indian origin, secured the Leicester East seat for the Conservatives, marking the party’s first victory there in 37 years. Ms. Raja also chose to swear her oath on the Bhagavad Gita, reflecting the growing diversity within the party’s parliamentary ranks.
The Conservative Party faced significant setbacks in the recent UK elections, securing only 121 seats compared to the Labour Party’s decisive 411-seat majority, led by Keir Starmer.