Hindutva targets the ‘other’ in UK

Earlier, Islamist hate preachers would come over to Britain — aided, abetted and funded by their local patrons - to stir up social tensions and foul the atmosphere. A government crackdown, including threats of arrest, and public hostility however, took care of that menace. But there’s now a new and alarming threat to Britain’s community relations. And it comes from the increasingly belligerent Hindutva groups whose activities have increased significantly since Narendra Modi’s ascent to power. After colonising the Indian Diaspora in America, they have now set their sights on Britain.

Ever heard of “Hindu Samhati”?

No? Nor had I or anyone else in Britain outside the Sangh Parivar (SP) bubble until a gentleman called Tapan Ghosh dropped by recently to check out the scene with a full-throated attack on Muslims, portraying them as a threat to Hindus and Hinduism. Ghosh started life as an RSS activist and was its fully-paid member for more than three decades serving in its various front organisations before floating his own Kolkata-based “Hindu Samhati” in 2008 positioning it even further to the Right of his former bosses. In all probability, it’s RSS’s own creation, yet another front organisation with the licence to carry out activities which it doesn’t want to be seen doing itself.

The fact that Ghosh’s UK visit was arranged by RSS/BJP-linked local groups who also facilitated his access to senior British politicians clearly shows that there’s more to Hindu Samhati than it has chosen to let out. It’s a measure of the growing influence of Britain’s Hindutva loyalists and their lobbying prowess that an obscure figure like Ghosh got to be hosted by a senior ruling Tory party MP, Bob Blackman, and address a meeting at Westminster. And he exploited the opportunity to the hilt packing his brief speech with venom directed not only at Muslims but also at Christians. In a widely reported remark he called for raising a “Hindu Defence Force” to fight “Islamic aggression”.

As the news of Ghosh’s inflammatory remarks spread and details of his background emerged, Blackman found himself at the centre of widespread criticism for hosting a man with a history of hate and bigotry. Under the headline, “Tory MP Hosts an Anti-Islam Extremist at Commons Event”, The Independent pointed out that Ghosh, “an Indian Hindu nationalist”, had in the past “praised the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Burma and called for the UN to control the birth rate of Muslims”. He had also suggested that Muslims should be “forced to leave their religion if they come to a western country”. Even the Muslim-baiting Sun was struck by Ghosh’s track record of inflammatory rhetoric.

The title of his speech, “Tolerating the Intolerant” with the subtitle “800 years of defence of Hindu rights against Arabic Islamic aggression followed by 200 years of European Christian aggression” was itself provocative and prompted a deluge of protests. The National Council of Hindu Temples (UK), which had organised the event with other local Hindu groups (all with RSS-BJP links), was inundated with angry queries about its decision to invite such a divisive figure to Britain. But if anyone was expecting an apology, they were disappointed. Far from showing any contrition, the Council fully launched a combative defence of Ghosh’s performance with an unapologetic endorsement of his hateful remarks.

Blackman, however, was hugely embarrassed and was quick to distance himself from Ghosh’s views, making clear that he did not endorse them. Sources suggested that he was misled into associating himself with the event.

It has emerged that the organisers also made an attempt to invite Home Secretary Amber Rudd to dignify the event, falsely claiming that it was meant to celebrate Diwali. But she was better advised than the gullible Blackman and stayed away. Her office went out of its way to clarify that she did not attend. In a statement exposing the Hindutva group’s chicanery, it said Ms Rudd not only didn’t go, she emphatically differed with Ghosh’s views.

“The Home Secretary accepted an invitation from the Hindu Forum of Britain to attend an event in Parliament last week to celebrate Diwali. She did not speak to Mr Ghosh and was not present when he spoke.”

Ghosh has since returned to Kolkata where he was apparently given a hero’s welcome by an “enthusiastic” crowd at the airport. Declaring “Mission Accomplished”, he said triumphantly: “I previously set up some support groups in the US. This time, I managed to form some support groups in the UK as well.”

But here’s a warning: British nationals don’t like their hospitality abused, and after this episode they would be watching Hindu nationalists very closely. Remember, Britain was the first country to refuse entry to Modi after the Gujarat pogrom. His prospective visit was seen as a threat to peace. An arrest warrant was ready if he turned up. Next time, Ghosh tries such a stunt, he may find cops waiting to question him.

(Hasan Suroor is a London-based commentator)