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Sir Noon suggests 10-year ban on immigration

December 01, 2008 18:32 IST

Britain should close its borders to all immigrants for up to 10 years to prevent potential racial unrest in the country, a leading India-born British businessman, who had a narrow escape in the Mumbai terror attacks, has said.

Sir Gulam Noon, known as the 'Curry King' because of his ready-meals firm, said a ban was required to prevent right-wing extremists such as the British National Party exploiting racial tensions in the UK.

"I strongly feel that whoever are the immigrants here, we had better give them jobs and give them dignity to live here before we import some more," he told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show.

"I do not want a situation whereby a party like the BNP says 'listen all your jobs are being taken away by immigrants'. We have to be extremely careful," Sir Noon added.

The suggestion that the ban could last up to a decade comes from his autobiography, which is to be published soon.

Sir Noon is believed to have written in the book: "We should wait for five or 10 years, until all the newcomers have been properly integrated and assimilated into the country."

The 72-year-old businessman, who escaped narrowly in the terror attacks, was in the suite on the third floor of the Taj Mahal Hotel on Nov 26 when the terrorists struck.

He had booked a table at the restaurant but at the last minute he felt slightly ill so changed his mind and decided to have dinner in his room with his brother and two business associates.

"It probably saved my life, the restaurant was the first place the terrorists went," Sir Noon said.

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