Queen’s Senior Aide Forced to Resign – Said Pakistanis Lacked Basic Civility

Paul Chandrasekharan Sabapathy
wmlieutenancy.org

Indian-born Paul Chandrasekharan Sabapathy CBE stood down yesterday after his low opinion of Pakistanis living in Britain were revealed.

Sabapathy made the comments about the lack of respect Pakistanis in Britain showed the Royal family and their representatives in an email composed after he attended Pakistan day celebrations at the Pakistani consulate in Birmingham.

Clearly shocked by the behaviour of the attendees, Sabapathy took to his computer, reports The Guardian, and wrote: “Pakistanis are lovely people individually but there is a lot of work to do to teach them basic common courtesy and civility.

“They talk to themselves and do not engage with the wider community. They are living in the UK not Pakistan. Whilst being rightly proud of their Pakistani culture and heritage they need to explain better and engage more with their non-Pakistani brothers and sisters if they want their children to succeed as British Pakistani citizens”.

Sabapathy came to Britain from his native India in 1964 and became a British citizen two decades later in 1984. A successful businessman, he was appointed the first non-white Lord Lieutenant in British history in 2007.

Announcing his resignation yesterday, Sabapathy expressed his regret, writing:  “I wish to apologise unreservedly and wholeheartedly for the offence I have caused to the Pakistani community and others, by the contents of my private email.

“I have today written to all those who received my original email to express my sincere sorrow and regret. I have asked for their forgiveness in the hope that my comments do not damage relationships between the many communities of the West Midlands.

“Those who know me will, I am sure, confirm I am a great advocate of the Muslim and Pakistani communities – in the same way that I support all of those in the region, no matter their colour, creed or beliefs. Collaboration and engagement are at the heart of all my work. There is not one iota of prejudice on my part and I am deeply sorry for the upset I have caused and I offer my sincere and heartfelt apologies.”

The Royal household acknowledged his resignation by recalling his good works in the region.

All counties in Britain have a Lord Lieutenant and a number of Deputy Lord Lieutenants, most normally retired senior military officers, members of the nobility, and more recently businessmen. Sabapathy didn’t represent a historic county, but rather the newly created West Midlands – a metropolitan county created in the 1970’s parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.

The duty of the Lord Lieutenant is to stand in as a representative of the Queen at events which would require her presence, but at which she is unable to attend.

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