By Team
Leicestershire Police are investigating an “unauthorised procession” which has been described by a Hindu human rights campaigner as a display of “Hindutva” – right wing Hindu nationalism.
Rajiv Sinha, director of Hindus for Human Rights UK (HFHR) which advocates for pluralism, civil and human rights, said the procession down Green Lane Road in Leicester last week was an act of “blatant intimidation and provocation”.
Green Lane Road is an area with a significant Muslim population, and was one of the principal locations for the violent disorder that took place in the city in 2022.
Videos of the procession show cars waving saffron flags featuring the Hindu deity Hanuman, a flag Sinha said is associated with the Bajrang Dal. Sinha described Bajrang Dal as a “militant group” and part of the “family of organisations headed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)”.
The RSS is a leading organisation in the Hindutva movement, which has been described by the Government in a report into extremism as “an extremist ideology that advocates for Hindu supremacy and seeks to transform India into an ethno-religious Hindu state”.
The report, which was leaked in January, identified Hindutva as an ideology of concern for the first time.
Sinha said there is “no place for the Bajrang Dal, any related organisation, or any related symbolism on the streets of Leicester, the UK, or anywhere”.
In a statement on the procession, police reminded all communities to “respect each other’s cultural and religious beliefs, and to celebrate safely and considerately”.
The police statement was not issued to the general public, instead being “supplied direct to the communities affected”.
This story was originally published in secularism.org.uk. Read the full story here.
