THE Hindu Council of Wales celebrated on Sunday (22) the festival of Raksha Bandhan with members of the armed forces.
The annual ceremony involves sisters of all ages tying a 'rakhi' (amulet) on the wrists of their brothers, symbolically protecting them. The brothers give them gifts in return.
(L-R) Radhika Kadaba, Indian Honorary Consul to Wales Raj Aggarwal and Sudha Bhatt of the Hindu Council of Wales light the inauguration lamp at a Raksha Bandhan event in Cardiff on August 22, 2021.
Col Sion Walker hands out an Army gift bag at a Raksha Bandhan event in Cardiff on August 22, 2021.
The event was organised by the council along with Indian Honorary Consul to Wales Raj Aggarwal.
The event, like those in previous years, was held to show solidarity with the armed forces, emergency services and community leaders for their valuable contribution to the community.
Sgt Paul Higgins hand out a Royal Air Force gift bag at a Raksha Bandhan event in Cardiff on August 22, 2021.
Lt Cdr Suzanne Lynch Royal Navy hand out a gift bag at a Raksha Bandhan event in Cardiff on August 22, 2021.
Among other dignitaries who attended the event were Sgt Paul Higgins, Col Sion Walker and Lt Cdr Suzanne Lynch, representing the RAF, Army and Royal Navy respectively; Hindu Council of Wales Chair Vimla Patel and Lord Lieutenant for South Glamorgan Morfudd Meredith.
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows British Steel's Scunthorpe plant, in Scunthorpe, northern England, Britain, March 31, 2025. REUTERS/Dominic Lipinski
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. (Representational image: iStock)
FBU chief raises concern over rise in racist online posts by union members
THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) and other trade unions are increasingly concerned about a rise in racist and bigoted online comments by their own members and officials, according to Steve Wright, the FBU’s new general secretary, speaking to the Guardian.
Wright said internal inquiries have revealed dozens of cases involving members using racist slurs or stereotypes, often aimed at asylum seekers.
He said similar issues were reported in other unions, prompting a joint campaign to counter false narratives around immigration and race promoted by far-right groups online.
“People with far-right views are becoming more brazen in what they do on social media, and I’ve witnessed it with my own union around disciplinary cases and the rhetoric of some of our own members,” Wright said to the newspaper.
He added, “Some of our members and sometimes our reps have openly made comments which are racist and bigoted. In my time in the fire service, that has gone up.”
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. A formal statement addressing far-right narratives will be launched at the union’s annual conference in Blackpool next month.
Wright cited the influence of social media and figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage as factors contributing to these incidents. “It feels like an itch that we’ve got to scratch,” he said.
The FBU barred a former official last year for allegedly endorsing racist content on X, including posts from Britain First and Tommy Robinson.
Wright also warned that the union could strike if the government moves to cut frontline fire services.