Hundreds protest Mohan Bhagwat’s UK visit outside London Parliament

Hundreds of protesters gathered at Parliament Square in London on Sunday to oppose the UK visit of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, accusing organisers of keeping details of his programme out of public view.

The protest was organised by a coalition including the UK Indian Muslim Council, South Asia Solidarity Group, Hindus for Human Rights, India Labour Solidarity and StriveUK, along with other Indian, South Asian and British organisations.

Protesters alleged that the RSS was keeping Bhagwat’s UK programme confidential because of concerns over public opposition to his international tour.

Rajiv Sinha, Director of Hindus for Human Rights UK, claimed that opposition had emerged during Bhagwat’s visit to the US and that details of his engagements in Canada had also not been widely publicised.

Naeem Baduuzzaman of the UK Indian Muslim Council alleged that the RSS had concealed its identity and ideology to secure meetings with people in Britain. He claimed that some imams and faith leaders had said they were deceived about the organisation.

Opposition to Bhagwat’s tour began in the United States, where protesters demonstrated outside a venue linked to his visit in New York. Campaigners in London said this had raised questions about the limited information available about his UK itinerary.

They alleged that details of events in Britain, including the “Oneness Celebration”, an interfaith event associated with the tour, had been kept confidential, including from the press, to avoid similar demonstrations.

Kalpana Wilson of the South Asia Solidarity Group criticised the event, accusing organisers of attempting to present Bhagwat and the RSS in a positive light through its message of “universal oneness”.

The protesters called for greater scrutiny of Bhagwat’s visit and urged British political and civil society institutions to consider concerns raised by minority and human rights groups regarding the RSS and its ideology.