 "Representative image. AFP")
British Member of Parliament Bob Blackman has slammed a report claiming that Hindu communities in the UK had a role to play in the 2022 Leicester riots.
UK’s Daily Mail published an article this weekend citing the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) report . which accused the British Hindu communities of having ties with “far-right organisations” over their “shared hostility toward Muslims.”
Blackman said, “I raised the NPCC’s report which blamed Hindu extremism for the Leicester riots in 2022. This is despite the fact that; 105 Hindu homes were attacked, 0 Muslim homes. 2 Hindu temples were attacked, 0 Mosques.”
About the riots
In August and September 2022, England’s Leicester experienced significant civil unrest between the city’s Hindu and Muslim communities. The disturbances began following a cricket match between India and Pakistan, leading to heightened tensions and subsequent violence.
The unrest escalated with clashes involving assaults, vandalism, and attacks on places of worship. Protesters, some wearing balaclavas, carried sticks and bats, resulting in injuries to 25 police officers.
What does the report say?
The report, compiled by the National Community Tension Team, claims that factions within the Hindutva movement have joined hands with far-right activists in the country, including British extremist Tommy Robinson.
The document reveals that Robinson has participated in meetings with Hindu organizations to back anti-Muslim efforts, and his involvement was endorsed by certain British Hindus and media outlets from India.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIt also highlights that the chant “Jai Shri Ram” (Hail Lord Ram), originally a Hindu religious expression, has been co-opted by extremists as a tool to assert superiority over other communities, similar to how “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) has been misused by Islamist radicals.