London, Aug 14 - A British minister Friday defended his decision to walk out of a Muslim wedding where men and women were separated, saying such practices ran against his efforts to build 'inclusion.'

Farming Minister Jim Fitzpatrick and his wife walked out of the marriage ceremony in his east London constituency - home to a large number of Bangladeshis - after discovering they would have to sit in separate rooms.

He told BBC radio Friday that such practices promoted 'exclusion rather than inclusion,' which his government was trying to build in areas like east London.

He also claimed he had received the support of a large number of his constituents, a third of whom are reported to be Muslims.

'My wife and I go to weddings to celebrate the occasion jointly. If we are welcome as a couple we go as a couple, and if not, it is our right to say we don't want to do that,' the minister told the Daily Telegraph in comments published Friday.

'I'm not pandering to any minority opinion,' he added.

However, Fitzpatrick was criticised by some Muslim leaders in Britain.