HFB DEFENDS NEASDEN MANDIR & VHP
(15 December 2004)

At the Home Affairs Select Committee hearing on Terrorism and Community Relations on 14th December 2004, the Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) vehemently refuted all allegations made earlier by Jagdeesh Singh of the Sikh Community Action Network against the Swaminarayan Hindu Mission Neasden and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK (VHP). Earlier on 16th November, Jagdeesh Singh had stated in his oral evidence to the Home Affairs Committee that the Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden had become a base for the terrorist activities of the VHP. His statement had caused outrage and anger in both the Hindu and Sikh communities.

Parliamentarians had also risen to the defence of the Swaminarayan Mission with an EDM (Early Day Motion) that was supported by many MPs. Speaking at the Home Affairs Committee, Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain said, “The Swaminarayan Hindu Mission is a temple of peace from where millions of people feel inspired to lead a peaceful life of worship. Mr Jagdeesh Singh’s statements were totally baseless and have angered both the Sikh and Hindu communities. The temple has no connection to terrorism and allows no other organisation to operate from its place. We should like to point out that national Sikh organisations have informed us that Mr Jagdeesh Singh does not represent the Sikh community. We would therefore like to understand why he was selected to give evidence in the first place, and what selection procedures the Committee utilises to select candidates?”

In response to a question by David Winnick MP asking if the Hindu Forum thought that the VHP was an extremist organisation as alleged by Jagdeesh Singh, Ramesh Kallidai said, “We vehemently deny any such allegation. The VHP has issued a statement in 2002 condemning all forms of terrorism, and most Hindus regard the VHP as a peaceful organisation working for the social and moral development of the community. There has been no evidence presented in any court of law to prove that the VHP is a terrorist organisation although the media seems to have victimised it. It is wrong for certificates and labels of ‘extremist’ to be affixed to organisations merely on the basis of media reports and hearsay without any concrete evidence.”

Kallidai went on to explain that last year there had been reports in the Times and the Telegraph alleging that the Markfield Institute of Higher Education, run by the Islamic Foundation, had two academic teachers with links to terrorist organisations like Hamas. “On the basis of these reports the Hindu community have not clamoured to label these organisations as ‘terrorists’ because we do not believe the media can adjudicate and pass judgements without trial. On the same lines, the VHP should not be labelled ‘extremist’ simply on the basis of media reports since it is not conducive for interfaith relations in Britain.”

The Hindu Forum of Britain had been invited to submit written and oral evidence to the Home Affairs Committee since it is the largest umbrella body on a national level for the Hindu community. The Hindu Forum’s written submission to the Home Affairs committee outlined detailed attacks on the Hindu community by religious and political fundamentalists in Britain and elsewhere.

Commenting on the events unfolding, Tejpal Singh Rayit of the Ramgarhis Gurdwara said, "The Swaminarayan Hindu mission has been one of the most progressive charities in the UK. The allegations made against it are both absurd and ludicrous and in no way should be tolerated by the community at large."

He was supported by Harvinder Singh Sian of the Namdhari Sangat who stated, "Please let it be known that the Namdhari Sikh community are not part of and do not agree with the derogatory views expressed by Mr Jagdeesh Singh of the Sikh Community Action network."

An interesting observation was made by Dr Girdhari Bhan, President of the VHP who said, "My concern is that people giving 'evidence' to the Home Affairs Committee are abusing the procedure by making allegations that malign the good name of people and organisations. The Committee members should not allow this to happen. If they deem it fit to receive and record claims and allegations - which are then made public - the Committee should examine what the 'evidence' is and then invite the accused party to attend another hearing so that it can defend itself. This would be justice and fair play."

Venilal Vaghela, Vice President of the HFB and the President of the Brent Hindu Council added, “It is extremely important in a democratic system that those who have the privilege of power exercise it with caution and wisdom. It is surprising that an individual who is non-representative of any specific community has been invited to give evidence to the House of Common Select Committee when there are in our midst very well known, and registered authentic community organisations who could have contributed to the national debate on terrorism and community relations in a more constructive way.”

Replying to a question from James Clappison MP on the higher chances of attacks on Hindu temples where people of all faith communities were usually welcomed, Kallidai explained, “Over 20 British temples were burnt in the 1990s after the Ayodhya riots in India, but not a single culprit has been found. There is an increased incidence of attacks on Hindu temples including stoning, graffiti, theft, and attacks on worshippers. The government does not have the data to monitor religious crime because the faith of the victim is not collected in the case documents. Since religiously aggravated crime is as serious as racially motivated crime, we are requesting the Police to also store data on the faith of the victim. Only then will monitoring of religious hate crime meet the same standards as race hate crime.”

ABOUT THE HINDU FORUM OF BRITAIN

The Hindu Forum of Britain is the largest umbrella body with a broad-based membership of over 230 Hindu organisations from different regions and cultural backgrounds in Britain. At the core of the Forum’s activities is a strong belief in the richness and diversity of the Hindu culture, its value system that encompasses respect for all beings and faiths, and a cultural heritage that facilitates community cohesion and coexistence. Click here to visit the HFB website.

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