UK report highlights pro-Khalistan, Hindu nationalist extremism as threats

Two types of extremism with their origins in the Indian subcontinent — pro-Khalistan extremism and Hindu nationalist extremism — have been flagged as threats to understand in a leaked report into the UK government’s Extremism Review’.

Extremely Confused: The government’s new counter-extremism review revealed’, authored by Andrew Gilligan and Dr Paul Scott for the Policy Exchange think tank released earlier this week, claims ‘Hindu nationalist extremism’ has found a mention in such a review for the first time.

UK Home Office Security Minister Dan Jarvis told the House of Commons on Tuesday that it was not entirely clear which version of the report was leaked and stressed that its claims did not represent government policy.

It follows Home Secretary Yvette Cooper ordering a Rapid Analytical Sprint’ last August to determine the Labour government’s policy on extremism.

As per the leaked report, the longest section is labelled Understand and lists nine types of extremism in the following order Islamist, extreme right-wing, extreme misogyny, pro-Khalistan extremism, Hindu nationalist extremism, environmental extremism, Left wing, anarchist and single-issue extremism (LASI), violence fascination and conspiracy theories.Pages 17-18 of Understand’ are devoted to two types of extremism which have their origins in the Indian subcontinent what is described as pro-Khalistan extremism and Hindu nationalist extremism. With regards to the former, the report offers the caveat that support for a Sikh state of Khalistan is not necessarily extremist; the problem is when this outlook leads to the advocacy of violence in support of that cause, reads the Policy Exchange report.

That is a logical position for the UK government to take. However much more controversial will be the assessment of a growing portfolio of actors of concern’ within the Khalistan movement; and reference to activism which contributes to the demonisation of Muslim communities, in particular about child sexual exploitation allegations’ and what are seen as conspiracy theories alleging collusion between the British and Indian Governments,” it reads.

c, including accusations of Indian involvement in “deadly violence against Sikhs in Canada and the United States”.

It adds: Hindu nationalist extremism (also referred to as Hindutva, which roughly translates as Hinduness’) was not mentioned in the 2023 Independent Review of Prevent something that with hindsight can be seen as a mistake. Given the violence which occurred in Leicester in September 2022 between Hindus and Muslims, the government is correct to place Hindu nationalist extremism under the spotlight not least as knowledge of it is generally low.

Equally notable here is the declaration that in Leicester key voices within both Muslim and Hindu communities also played a significant role in opportunistically exploiting tensions and inciting hate among the local communities’.

The Opposition Conservative Party raised the leaked report’s findings in Parliament, with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp questioning the government’s approach towards tackling different forms of extremism.

As we have said repeatedly, Islamist extremism followed by far-right extremism are the biggest threats we face… Ideology, particularly Islamist extremism followed by far-right extremism, continues to be at the heart of our approach to countering extremism and terrorism, stated Dan Jarvis, on behalf of the government.

The Home Office also reiterated that the findings of the Rapid Analytical Sprint’ have not been formally agreed by ministers as the government considers a wide range of potential next steps arising from that work.

 

[AJS]

It is ridiculous to consider Hindu nationalists as a threat to the UK and list them together with Khalistanis. At best, one may consider the more extreme nationalist minded among UK Hindus as a public order issue, when they engage in demonstrations, which too they do as a reaction to the attacks by Khalistanis on Indian diplomatic missions, temples etc., and not proactively. Their actions would not occur were the UK authorities to prevent desecration of and violent attacks on Indian missions and temples.

On the other hand the Khalistanis are terrorists with an avowed aim of causing the further partition of India, and they have a long track record of mass slaughter; they have brought down passenger aircraft killing hundreds of innocent people, set off bombs in public places in India, opened fire with automatic weapons, attacked Indian security forces and so on; they have been proven to be in league with the Pakistani deep state which itself is known the world over as a major sponsor of terror, not just against India but also against the West. It is good that the UK recognises Khalistanis, at long last, as a threat to itself. But it shows an utter lack of understanding to not be able to distinguish between them and the so-called Hindu nationalists.

As for the Indian intelligence agencies allegedly killing Khalistani terrorists in the UK and elsewhere, if at all true, then it would be a highly limited, specific set of covert actions against dangerous individuals, brought on as a result of their taking sanctuary in the UK and attacking Indian establishments there. Their elimination - were it indeed to be taking place - would constitute the removal of a threat against India and against the UK. Again, things would not have come to such a pass had Western countries not let such people carry on from their soil in the first place. It is hypocritical for them to turn a blind eye to Khalistani / Islamic terror against India, even as they themselves kill Muslim terrorists in foreign countries, and with them literally thousands of innocent Muslims civilians as so called “collateral damage”.

All this having been said, there is need for Indians to recognise that the small number of Hindu vigilantes who discriminate against, harass, beat or murder innocent Muslims in India, engage in hate speech, or carry on with rowdy and violent demonstrations are bringing a bad name to Hinduism and to India. Their actions are not justifiable wherever may be the actions of Muslim terrorists, Khalistanis etc. The mass of Muslims living in India cannot be held accountable for the actions of a few people among them. The authorities in India need to deal with Hindu vigilantes as per law. Let us hope that the UK report will also induce some introspection in India, so that we are seen as a society ruled by law and decency.