Labor figure Jasvinder Sidhu sorry for attacking Muslims
Labor factional figure Jasvinder Sidhu has said he was “greatly upset” by any suggestion he was anti-Muslim and apologised after a secret recording was released in which he was heard in a racist rant.
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A Labor factional figure has made a public apology after he was secretly recorded verbally attacking Muslims.
Jasvinder Sidhu, assistant secretary of the party’s Tarneit branch, on Tuesday night said the statements reported did not reflect his views
“I unreservedly apologise for comments attributed to me by the Herald Sun newspaper on Tuesday and for any hurt or offence caused,” he said.
“The recording released was part of a longer discussion shortly after I was physically assaulted in my home, and I await the outcomes of Victorian Police’s ongoing investigations into this matter.
“In the meeting reported by the Herald Sun, I was debriefing after the violence that had occurred at my house, and discussing the importance of political and policy action on issues such as parent visas.
“This is a matter that I have passionately advocated for greater action, including at the last State Labor conference.”
A Hoppers Crossing branch meeting at Mr Sidhu’s house ended with him being punched in the face on January 25.
The violence erupted after an internal dispute boiled over between the party’s right-aligned factions and the Socialist Left.
Mr Sidhu said he was “greatly upset” by any suggestion he was anti-Muslim.
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“I have a history of working with the local Islamic community, and have opposed the attacks on people of the Muslim faith in India where I was born,” he said.
But Mr Sidhu indicated that he stood by some of his leaked statements about government funding to the Islamic community.
“While I wish I had chosen clearer words, I was simply reflecting historical community concerns regarding the fair distribution of grants between communities,” he said.
“Again, I apologise unreservedly for any offence or hurt, and hope that my positive record of activism and advocacy over many years in support of multicultural and multi-faith communities is considered in future media reporting.”