Keith Vaz for monument recognising Commonwealth countries in World Wars

LONDON: Keith Vaz, Britain's longest-serving Indian-origin MP, has called for a monument to be erected to highlight the crucial contributions of Asian, African and Caribbean soldiers in the First and Second World Wars.

Vaz's call comes after the 'Together We Won the War' exhibition staged by Leicester's Race Equality Centre.

"Not enough people know how significant a contribution Asian, African and Caribbean Commonwealth soldiers made in the First and Second World Wars," Vaz said.

He said this exhibition at the Race Equality Centre has rightly been shortlisted for the Heritage category of the National Lottery Awards.

"Quite simply, it tells a story deeply important to the history of the United Kingdom and many other countries which has not been told before.

"In honour of those brave men and women, I feel it is only right for a monument to be erected immortalising their sacrifices and contribution.I would be delighted for this monument to be based in Leicester, and I know our local community would welcome with open arms this testimony to our forebears, who gave so much for us," the 58-year-old MP said.