A Conservative Party lawmaker has sparked a racism row in Britain after she accused immigrants, particularly Indians, of showing total disregard for the cleanliness of a public area. Councillor Lucy Ivimy, 53, who sits on the Tory-run Hammersmith and Fulham council, suggested immigrants should be taught that littering is unacceptable and an educational exercise should be conducted to change their behaviour.
Ivimy, who won her seat in a 2005 by-election, said Indians in particular saw throwing rubbish out of windows as 'normal' and showed a 'total disregard for the cleanliness of a public area'. "I know that in India, throwing rubbish out of a window and total disregard for the cleanliness of a public area is normal behaviour and I daresay a number would change behaviour if firmly told that in London this is not acceptable behaviour," the lawmaker was quoted as saying by the British publication, Mail on Sunday, on Wednesday.
In an email sent to the head of the housing association that runs the Woodford Court estate in Shepherds Bush, West London, the Tory councillor said the residents' association should not be responsible for picking up all the rubbish, which includes 'used condoms and other delights'.
However, residents and other councillors while accepting that there is a problem with littering, said Ivimy had no proof that Indian families were to blame. The Tory councillor has been accused of racism. "I don't know why she is singling out Indians as there are dozens of different nationalities in this block but I've only ever seen one or two Indian families," said Claudia Harriott, a 28-year-old student who resides in the block. Another resident Dang Sakares, 51, who has lived in the area for eight years, said she had never seen people throwing rubbish out of the windows. "In fact, I don't think I've seen any Indian people in this block."
Stephen Cowan, leader of the Labour group on the council, said Ivimy had no proof to back up her claims. It was pointed out that the residents were mainly Afro-Caribbean, Chinese and Eastern European. They said they had seen only two Indian families. "They are from all backgrounds and there is continuous education about what is acceptable behaviour, but it is completely wrong to say it is just people from India and all this shows is her inherent prejudice," Cowan stressed.
The report said Ivimy later agreed that comments may have been offensive and it was a hastily written, ill thought out, stupid and personal email.
