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One of the last surviving Indian Second World War fighter pilots has launched an attack on the BNP after it used images of a Spitfire in its campaign.
Mohinder Singh Pujji hit out at the far-Right party, and urged all British ethnic minorities not to shun the forces.
The 92-year-old RAF Squadron Leader flew a Spitfire in the Battle of Britain and also met Sir Winston Churchill. He was one of only 18 Indian pilots in the RAF in the war, and the only Sikh to fly wearing his turban.
Sqn Ldr Pujji said he was outraged at the way the BNP has used imagery from the war: "The BNP are wrong to use the Spitfire as representative of their party. They forget people from different backgrounds helped in the Second World War. I am proof of this - I was flying a Spitfire. I also met Winston Churchill.
"Even in those days, there were ethnic minorities fighting for the British. I would recommend the armed forces for young people, regardless of race."
Sqn Ldr Pujji was born in Shimla, India, and volunteered for the RAF in 1940 after qualifying as a pilot in 1937.He was shot down twice and flew missions in North Africa and Burma, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war he flew commercial airlines, settling in Newham before moving to Gravesend. He was made a freeman of Newham in 2005.
Last week BNP leader Nick Griffin announced his intention to contest the Barking constituency, in Newham's neighbouring borough, at the election.
Reader views (25)
The bnp are really pathetic, only a little while ago they treid to use a DC comic...well they got stopped straight away
- Prem, Reading UK
We've got Muslims calling for the violent overthrow of the country, and this guy is worried about a Spitfire photograph.
- Trunk, US
does anyone actually look closly at the pictuere use by BNP? On the nose of the spitfire is red and white check logo which state that Polish pilot was flying this particular plain.Does BNP knows how many polish pilots fight for this countryin Battle of Britain.That they have more succesfull attacs on German forces that any other pilots.I do understand people frustration in the current economical climat ,but bealive me there are thousends of us immigrants here who respect ,this country and feel at home and most important work hard and try to do best for comunities they leave in.
- Katarzyna Krupecka, london
Good to see that the debate is happening here, since NuLabour plans to stop History & Geography in the next Curriculum. But then LabLibCon Political Parties likely to be abolishrd under the Lisbon Treaty after the next General Election, so lets see that debate here B4 it is too late.
- Bill, Hay~Heath UK
Churchill was an imperialist and firrmly believe in the supremacy of the British over its empire BUT his views were from the 19th century as that was what he was taught in his formative years at Harrow and his escapades in South Africa during the Boer War.
His views were not uncommon amongst others of his ilk in the Tory party. That was his flaw but he never allowed his personal view to interfere with the conduct of the war. His old imperialist views were firmly rejected by the homecoming soldiers who voted in Attlee and he had had to accept that Britain after WW2 was no longer an Imperial power and saw over the independence of countries when he was returned to power in 1950.
Roosevelt didn't trust his post war vision and excluded him from the discusion on how the world would be carved up. In fact the Americans despite his mother being one never trusted him fully for the very reason that he was an imperialist. In the same way theat they never trusted De Gaulle as they felt the same way about him.
What is pertinent here is that the Battle of Britain would not have been won without foreign airmen. The Polish squadrons were the most succesful in terms of kills that any other. This country owes a debt to this man and those like him. ask yourself would you have fought a war for an nation that had been occupying your country for over 200 years? WW2 was not a war of countries it was a war of humanity and anyone trying to claim it for their own is frankly sick.
- Duncan, Kent
Ok, the BNP may be a bunch of people following a political line that the majority would perfer not to have anything to do with - but this is ridiculous. How many other 'moments in British history' are they to be excluded from? THEIR ancestors were as involvged as everyone else's. Like it or not - like THEM or not - they are as British as anyone else and have the same national history and pride (although some might say far too focussed).
What next? Is there to be a complaint about them breathing the same air as everyone else? (Look up 'rhetorical' before responding to this question please)
There's plenty they can be legitimately confronted with, why not stick to that? Every time nonsense like this is highlighted it distracts from the real issues.
- Rogan, Irving
The BNP are laughable. If they hadn't been forced to by the law of the land (which they pretend to be upholders of), the likes of the heroic Mr Puji would be forbidden from joining them because of the colour of his skin. So now that they have no choice unless they want to face disbandment, they claim their current membership would "welcome him". Truly feeble.
- Richard, London UK
Under the new, revised BNP constitution, this brave gentleman will be able to join the party in January, after the current membership freze ends, with fellow Sikh Rajinder Singh and he would be made most welcome by all.
- Caroline, Ludlow
The BNP would do anything for our soldiers – anything. They would not sit on their fat backsides and watch week after week as one by one our boys pass through Wootton Bassett as their devastated relatives look on. They would bring them home - now. If any party should use a Spitfire as their Icon, then it is the British National Party. Our soldiers are dying for nothing, but rather than admit that, these parties are happy for this to go on. Parliament couldn’t care less, as week after week they read their names out, then walk off and get on with their expenses fraud. There are many soldiers in the BNP because they know where their loyalties lie. And yes, without doubt, Churchill would definitely have been in the BNP. At least that party didn’t sell his assets off to the highest bidder, unlike his family who did.
- Sylvie, Epping Essex
Several good points made here; Firstly, did he or did he not fight in the Battle of Britain ? if not this is lazy journalism. Even if he didn't, he still did this nation a fine service for which he deserves the nation's thanks. The statement "If only we had more people like this who come from our indigenous population then we could call this nation Great again" is true in its sentiment other than for the fact that Sqn Ldr Pujji is not indigenous to this country but was born in India. If it means people born here should act more like him the suggestion is moot, as the situation has changed. As for Churchill being rude about indians, so what ? He was also a fat drunk but he did more for this country than any historic Brit since Wellington and if he hadn't existed there'd be no ethnic or religious minorities in this country because the nazis would have exterminated any here and allowed no immigration into Europe.
- Squiz, Islington
Considering BNP stands for the British National Party, a legitimate political party here in the UK, one could only say they have every right to use anything British within their organization. The UK is a democratic nation and it is mindless to suggest they cant use British history, culture or anything else for that matter. While it comendable of Mr Pujji overseas contributions for Britain during world war 2, there are many supportors / members of the BNP that had Parents and Grandparents that fought and died in that war here on the home front. The BNP have every right as British citizens to use this material, and it is not up to anyone to say who and who cant.
- Porky Pies, Land of Make Believe, London
@ Dc, London
Actually I think the people who need to learn respect for our society and the instruments of it, as Sqn Ldr Pujji alluded to, is quite obvious.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
DC, London: In response to your criticism of Lorene Roberts: Pilots of the following nationalities are recorded as having flown in operations during the Battle of Britain: Americans, Australians, Belgians, British, Canadians Czechoslovakians, Free French, Irish, Jamaicans, Poles , New Zealanders, South Africans, Palestinians and Southern Rhodesians.
24 Indian pilots were sent to Britain in the summer of 1940, entering operational service after the Battle of Britain, but nonetheless making an invaluable contribution to the defence of this country, something for which we will be eternally grateful.
Lorene has done nothing wrong in pointing out a matter of fact. It is unfortunate that Mr Pujji's gallant contribution has been hijacked in this way.
As others have pointed out, it is the failure of the ConLabLib conspiracy to address the concerns and fears of ordinary indigenous Britons that has led directly to the rise of the BNP. If you have a problem with their popularity, then I suggest that you take the matter up with Gormless McClown and the Britain-hating NuLiebour party, they are the main culprits.
That aside, the BNP is a lawfully constituted, democratically elected party. whether you like it or not. They are as entitled as anyone else to use British historical iconography in their campaign material. In fact, I would say that they are more entitled to do so than the bunch of undemocratic, EUrophile enemies of Britain currently occupying Downing Street.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
The most baffling part of this story is why the photographer felt it necessary to shoot the picture on bended knees looking straight up mr Pujji's nose!,was he trying to make some sort of statement?
- Lord Lucan, Wembley Stadium London.
Dc, London:
"If only we had more people like this who come from our indigenous population..."
Surely you're not suggesting that this country produces NO "people like this" from it's indigenous population. You may feel that the country is / has gone to the dogs, but there are still plenty of good "indigenous" people out there.
- Mark H, London England
It's the likes of Mr Pujji that still make us proud! Unfortunately, how likely is it the narrow minded BNP will lump the likes of Mr Pujji with the illegals or benefit scroungers purely based on the man's colour!
- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK
Whilst appreciating the help given by Sqn Ldr Pujji, we should also remember the couple of hundred thousand JIF forces who gave immeasurable help during the War...
- Jonathan Montmorency, cooden
- Lorene Roberts, Benfleet, England
The only thing baffling here is you. This man flew over northern France, fought against the Luftwaffe and is a war hero (Battle of Britain or not). If only we had more people like this who come from our indigenous population then we could call this nation Great again. I think you need to learn some respect.
- Dc, London
Simply more free publicity for the BNP.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
My old school P.T. teacher flew in the battle of Britain. Paddy O'Neil (Glasgow University Squadron), and I'm sure he'd be outraged at any association with the B.N.P. -Just too bad Labour has let immigration become such an issue, or we'd never hear of them. -Still, not too late, -just get the finger out Labour, and listen to your voters for a change, instead of the P.C.brigade all the time!
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland
Dhan Raj,
If you knew anything about Churchill and his bigoted views you would realise why he would make an ideal icon for the BNP. Churchill often made very disparaging remarks about Indians.
- Mark, South-East London
I am afraid your report is incorrect, no Indian pilots flew in the Battle of Britain in 1940. The first Indian pilots were used in 1941 after the Battle for Britain had finished.
I also fail to see why the BNP cannot use images of British bravery in their campaign to save Britain from what they regard as further deterioration after all many BNP members have relations who fought in this epic battle, this report is baffling.
- Lorene Roberts, Benfleet, England
an over due report -
too little to late
- Lee, london uk
Absolutely disgrace that these facists are allowed to use Spitfires and Churchill in their publicity material. Somebody, please put a stop to it.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon
While I have enormous respect for the man and his achievements I feel that his good name is being hijacked by the main parties in order to create negative publicity for the BNP (which the BNP have a knack of spinning).
- Jimbob, Kensington
