Indian filmmaker-writer joins Britain's Labour Party

Ahead of next month's crucial elections in Great Britain, Mumbai-based author and filmmaker Pankaj Dubey has joined the Labour Party.

Welcoming him, Labour Party General Secretary Iain McNicol said members like (Dubey) would be the party's greatest strength, especially during a general election.

Thanking him for "joining at this most important time", McNicol said in a letter that "We must keep our movement growing to ensure we are as strong as possible on (election day) June 8."

British Prime Minister Theresa May announced a snap poll in a very volatile political situation in the backdrop of Brexit.

"I shall soon meet Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and brief him on issues pertaining to the Indian Diaspora in the UK and my plans to work among them," Dubey, 38, told IANS here today on Wednesday.

"I decided to join the UK's Labour Party as I think I can relate quite organically with its vision, modus operandi and 'all inclusiveness'."

He said the Labour party has launched a drive to invite people to join it from across Commonwealth countries. "I am ecstatic to share the fact that the Labour Party is open to members coming from across the Commonwealth landscape globally," Dubey added.

Dubey said he is not averse to settling down in the UK and fighting elections there in the future. He acquired his lawyer degree from University of Delhi followed by a Masters in Applied Communication from Coventry School of Art & Design, England.

Born in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Dubey is a best-selling bilingual novelist and filmmaker known for his books "What A Loser!" and "Ishqiyapa - To Hell With Love."

A former journalist with BBC in London and the Resident Editor of Pravasi Today magazine for Indian Diaspora, Dubey said he later moved into filmmaking and is currently working on a couple of titles.

He was instrumental in organizing India's first street film fest for slum and rural kids, 'Sadak Chhaap Film Festival' around seven years ago.

--IANS

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