As many as 180 British Indian and Hindu organisations and temples have written to UK Prime Minister Liz Truss requesting her to intervene and shield them as they’re being focused and really feel threatened within the nation following the violence in Leicester and Birmingham.
The representatives additionally made six appeals, together with making certain adequate safety is supplied to the Hindu group within the quick and lengthy phrases.
“We write to attract your consideration to the latest disturbances in Leicester, Birmingham and different cities which have significantly distressed the Indian and Hindu communities within the UK. Hatred in direction of the Hindu group is at an all-time excessive, to the purpose the place there was open violence, intimidation, and abuse levelled at Hindus by way of bodily assaults, harassment on social media, and most lately by way of comfortable concentrating on in faculties and the office,” the letter reads.
The open letter, signed by organisations that embrace Nationwide Council of Hindu Temples, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Sanstha UK, Indian Nationwide College students Affiliation UK, Iskcon Manchester, Abroad Pals of BJP (UK), the Hindu Legal professionals Affiliation (UK), and Perception UK, added that the Hindu group has made the UK its residence for greater than half a century. “We’re lower than two per cent of the inhabitants, and but, our contribution, of which you little question are conscious, is considerably greater each when it comes to socio-economic contribution to the British economic system and by means of social integration in addition to upholding our progressive British values. The Hindu group is likely one of the most law-abiding, as evidenced by the imprisonment statistics. But, at the moment, we really feel like a group that’s below siege. As a final resort, we write to you to attract your consideration to our plight, and the long-term penalties of what’s unfolding.
“You could pay attention to the violence in Leicester and the aggressive protests exterior a temple in Birmingham in addition to the vicious makes an attempt to harass the Hindu group in Nottingham and outdoors London’s iconic Sanatan Mandir in Wembley. Though the causes of what occurred in Leicester are many and complicated, the underside line is {that a} marginalised Hindu group has been focused by way of violence and intimidation,” the letter stated.
The representatives stated the Hindu group lives in a “state of concern”. Whereas some households have already left the neighbourhood, many extra are getting ready to relocate. It’s value noting {that a} small, however extremely organised band of radical Islamists took full benefit of the group tensions that existed between this marginalised Hindu group and their Muslim neighbours, which had beforehand lived in peace. A storm of misinformation was wilfully created on social media with open incitement for violence in opposition to Hindus, they stated.
Underlining their appeals, it letter stated, “First, to make sure that the Police are actively investigating the newest crimes in opposition to the Hindu group as set out on this letter; second, to declare and guarantee monetary assist is supplied for the victims of those riots, together with companies in Leicester which have been vandalised throughout the riots and third, to fee an unbiased investigation into anti-Hindu hatred and its causes.”
It added, “Fourth, to recognise the specter of British homegrown extremism and the way sure components of Britain have change into hubs of radicalisation; fifth, assist us fund coaching for lecturers in order that they’re conscious of and might establish and take care of anti-Hindu hatred in faculties; and sixth, to make sure that adequate safety is supplied to the Hindu group each within the short-term and long-term, together with adequate safety throughout the celebration of Diwali across the UK.”
The stress between Hindu and Muslim communities following an India-Pakistan cricket match in Asia Cup led to a spate of violent clashes within the japanese England metropolis of Leicester final month.