Over the past decade there has been an acceleration of attacks on Hindus around the world. In particular, the UK, USA, and Canada. It follows a very similar pattern to the attacks the Jewish community have faced for many more decades.
Only this week we have witnessed how tens of thousands rampaged through the streets of British towns and cities under the guise of ‘free Palestine’. What we all saw were gangs of anti-Semites attacking Jewish people and businesses for no other reason than for being Jewish. We saw politicians from the Labour Party line up on any platform going to undermine Israel and promote Palestine. Fortunately for the Jewish community they have in place a body called the ‘Community Security Trust CST’ whose mandate is to protect the Jewish community. Even with these great community organisations, with ample funding and people of influence, they still face atrocities daily.
The Hindu community have also faced attacks on their person, their faith and their culture. There appears to be a systematic modus operandi in place designed to undermine the community at every corner. The anti-Hindu rhetoric is given huge traction by many in the Labour Party. Whereas for the Jewish community they use Palestine as an excuse, for Hindus they use Kashmir and Khalistan.
There is something common in what we see and experience. It seems the extremists from the Muslim community have been given much bandwidth by those on the political left, not just here with Labour, but with the Democrats in the USA also. These well organised and well-resourced international groups have toolkits designed to attack and undermine nations, as well as communities. One has to wonder how they are funded!
I believe the time has come to set up our own security trust that learns from the lessons of the CST. I have personally already started the groundwork to make this happen. The only thing lacking is funding, and I am hoping that there will be well meaning Hindus who will come forward and offer their assistance. I want the entity to be independent and not succumb to donors or any other vested interests. Will I be able to put this in place in the coming year? That remains a challenge and I guess at some point I will write back and let you all know. For comparison purposes, the CST has a budget of some £20 million per year. Now I don’t expect that level of funding initially, but without serious funding we as a community cannot make any serious impression on those who wish us harm.
The main aim for such an entity will be to protect Britain's diverse and vibrant Hindu community from the external threats of bigotry, anti-Hindu racism and violent extremism. It should also aim to provide training and advice for the protection of British Hindus, assist victims of anti-Hindu attacks, monitor anti-Hindu activities and incidents, and liaise with the Police, Government and media on issues affecting the Hindu community.
So there you have it, I have thrown down the gauntlet. I pray that we will find several high-net-worth benefactors who will come forward and lend support. This initiative is not one where we will beg. It will test the resolve of many in the community, and it will be history making.
Once COVID restrictions are relaxed, I hope to host a ‘Hindu Security Conference’ at the Houses of Parliament. Let’s convert our collective hopes into something that is more tangible. Arise, Awake oh sons and daughters of Bharat Varsh.
