Council risks being 'institutionally racist' according to councillor

Rochdale Borough Mega Mela

Councillor Robin Parker made strong and highly emotive accusations in the council chamber at last night’s (Wednesday 22 July) full council meeting saying the decision to refuse permission to stage the Rochdale Mega Mela in the Town Centre risked the council being labelled as guilty of “institutional racism”.

In equally strong and emotive terms, Councillor Parker also described policing at the Mela in Springfield Park three years ago “was less like for a carnival, more like for an insurgence by Al Quaeda”.

Comparing the decision to allow the recently very successful Feel Good Festival to take place with the decision not to allow the Mela, on the grounds of fears over security, Councillor Parker said: “If the Feel Good Festival can, and was, policed successfully, and was secure, the Mela surely can be.”

Rochdale Township Chairman, Councillor Andrew Abbott objected strongly to Councillor Parkers “institutional racism” remark calling it an “unjustified strong comment”.  He added: “I am sure Councillor Shariff will look closely at the decision.”

The Mela was held at Bowlee in Middleton last year but attendance was not good because, Councillor Parker said: “Asians, who make up the bulk of those attending, would not travel to Middleton”. He also said that reports of trouble at the Mela last year were inaccurate in that the trouble occurred after the Mela had finished when the “take down” was taking place and was due to a “local gang causing trouble after security had stood down”.