A GROUP of British Asians urged Labour MPs not to donate their pay rises to subsidise a welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, launching a public petition.

The South Asia Solidarity group called on Keith Vaz, Virendra Sharma, Stephen Pound and Seema Malhotra not to contribute the money to an “Olympic-style” event in Wimbledon on November 13.

Mr Vaz told the press earlier this month that he was “so excited about this event I will donate my pay rise for November for this great function.”

A spokeswoman for South Asia Solidarity told the Star that the decision was particularly disappointing.

She said: “Modi was deeply implicated in the Gujarat 2002 pogrom and has ongoing court cases against him.

“Two thousand people were massacred, 200,000 displaced, women werer raped and subjected to the utmost brutality and their children murdered before their eyes.

“It was carefully planned by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is modelled on the Italian fascist and German Nazi parties and which Modi himself belongs to.

“Similar scenes are now being enacted all over India — Muslims, Dalits, Christians and left groups are being targeted.

“The British left must see that this is fascism, and that those who oppose it need solidarity and support.”

She added that the MPs’ time would be better spent joining protests against Mr Modi and donating the money to the families of the victims in Gujarat or foodbanks in Britain.

Feltham and Heston MP Ms Malhotra denied she was planning to donate any money to the ceremony.

She added: “I have made clear that, while I believe every MP has the right to choose how they spend their salary increase, I have already committed my salary increase to supporting an apprenticeship in the constituency this year.”

Mr Vaz, representing Leicester East, Mr Pound, whose constituency is Ealing North, and Mr Sharma, the MP for Ealing Southall, were not available to comment.

MPs are due to receive a 10 per cent pay rise next month, amounting to a £7,000 top-up for each member.

The MPs are just some of the partners of the UK Welcomes Modi event, which will include “the biggest fireworks display in the whole country” as part of the celebration.