London School of Economics scholar predicts strong protests against Modi during his maiden visit to Britain next week
In a clear signal that things may not be smooth for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Britain next week, well-known expert Dr Kalpana Wilson, a visiting fellow in gender theory, globalization and development at the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE), has noted in a blog on the LSE website that several “campaign organisations, academics and individuals are coming together to protest increasing violence against minority groups” in India.
Calling Modi’s decision to address at Wembley stadium in London during his visit “an ‘Olympic style’ extravaganza”, Wilson said, “UK-based South Asian community groups, human rights organisations, women’s organisations, environmental campaigns, academic and student groups and individuals” have organized themselves under the slogan “#ModiNotWelcome to protest the increase in violence against minority groups under the current government.”
“They are also raising questions about Modi’s role in the 2002 Gujarat riots while he was Chief Minister and highlighting the current policies of his government which they believe are leading to mass dispossession, loss of livelihoods and the undermining of democratic rights”, Wilson added. The LSE has described her views “personal” not those of the institute.
Recalling how in recent months there have seen “a number of incidents of violence against Muslims, Christians and Dalits by Hindu right-wing organisations in India”, Wilson said, “Perhaps the most widely reported was the murder of 52 year old Mohammed Akhlaq by a mob of around 200 Hindu young men mobilised by a local organisation, the Samadhan Sena (Solution Army) on the pretext of accusations of eating beef.”
“This was followed by a spate of similar incidents in different parts of the country. Other high profile incidents include the case of two young children, Vaibhav, aged 3 and 9 month-old Divya, of a Dalit family who died in an arson attack in Haryana, and the murders of rationalist writers MM Kalburgi and Govind Pansare”, she said.
Noting that these “disturbing trends” are not restricted to India, Wilson said, “The Hindu Right has a network of organisations across the UK. The most significant of these is the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) which is the British wing of India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, a paramilitary organisation formed in the 1920s of which Modi is a former full-time worker.
Disputing HSS’ claim of being a “charitable” organization with “cultural aims”, Wilson said, “The HSS UK is currently being investigated by the British Charity Commission for hate speech against Muslims and Christians. After the Gujarat pogroms of 2002 an investigation by Awaaz suggested HSS and its charity wing Sewa International had been channelling funds to organisations directly involved in carrying out the violence.”
Wilson said, while the UK Welcomes Modi campaign, backed by long term UK-based associates of Modi, Manoj Ladwa, seeks to demonstrate support for the Prime Minister among the 1.6 million-strong Indian community in Britain, “but increasing numbers of people are disturbed by the signs of deepening intolerance in India under Modi.”
“This is reflected in the wide range of dissenting activities which have been taking place in the UK recent weeks. Ahead of Modi’s visit, all the major South Asian and BME women’s organisations in the UK and more than 20 academics concerned with gender violence have written an open letter to Modi drawing attention to ‘the hate crimes, patriarchal violence and misogyny perpetrated by the RSS and its affiliated organizations’,” said Wilson.
She added, “Faculty, students and alumni of Cambridge have written to the vice-chancellor urging him not to host Modi in a planned address to the Senate, noting that the invitation comes at a time when ‘prominent Indian writers and intellectuals are returning their state honours in protest against the ongoing assault on civil liberties and academic freedom under Modi’s government’.”
“Meanwhile”, Wison said, “a petition addressed to Labour MPs Keith Vaz, Steve Pound, and Virendra Sharma, who announced that they would be donating their pay rises for November to help fund the Wembley extravaganza, has been launched. It asks them to reconsider their decision and instead donate the money to survivors of communal violence in India or alternatively to foodbank charities in the UK.”
Wilson further said, “In the run-up to Modi’s arrival, a Reclaim Diwali event will take place on Friday 6 November featuring a range of international artists. The organisers describe it as a ‘secular celebration of shared cultures, blurred boundaries, daring to dream and organising against oppression’ and funds raised will go the survivors of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.” And on November 10, “a number of London-based student organisations are jointly calling an event at SOAS called ‘We Need to Talk About Modi’.”
“This will culminate in a day of protest at Downing Street and Parliament Square on November 12, which thousands of people are expected to attend from across the country”, Wilson said, adding, this would happen when British Prime Minister David Cameron “is eager to roll out the red carpet for Modi and promote the interests of British corporates.”
Calling Modi’s decision to address at Wembley stadium in London during his visit “an ‘Olympic style’ extravaganza”, Wilson said, “UK-based South Asian community groups, human rights organisations, women’s organisations, environmental campaigns, academic and student groups and individuals” have organized themselves under the slogan “#ModiNotWelcome to protest the increase in violence against minority groups under the current government.”
“They are also raising questions about Modi’s role in the 2002 Gujarat riots while he was Chief Minister and highlighting the current policies of his government which they believe are leading to mass dispossession, loss of livelihoods and the undermining of democratic rights”, Wilson added. The LSE has described her views “personal” not those of the institute.
Recalling how in recent months there have seen “a number of incidents of violence against Muslims, Christians and Dalits by Hindu right-wing organisations in India”, Wilson said, “Perhaps the most widely reported was the murder of 52 year old Mohammed Akhlaq by a mob of around 200 Hindu young men mobilised by a local organisation, the Samadhan Sena (Solution Army) on the pretext of accusations of eating beef.”
“This was followed by a spate of similar incidents in different parts of the country. Other high profile incidents include the case of two young children, Vaibhav, aged 3 and 9 month-old Divya, of a Dalit family who died in an arson attack in Haryana, and the murders of rationalist writers MM Kalburgi and Govind Pansare”, she said.
Noting that these “disturbing trends” are not restricted to India, Wilson said, “The Hindu Right has a network of organisations across the UK. The most significant of these is the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) which is the British wing of India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, a paramilitary organisation formed in the 1920s of which Modi is a former full-time worker.
Disputing HSS’ claim of being a “charitable” organization with “cultural aims”, Wilson said, “The HSS UK is currently being investigated by the British Charity Commission for hate speech against Muslims and Christians. After the Gujarat pogroms of 2002 an investigation by Awaaz suggested HSS and its charity wing Sewa International had been channelling funds to organisations directly involved in carrying out the violence.”
Wilson said, while the UK Welcomes Modi campaign, backed by long term UK-based associates of Modi, Manoj Ladwa, seeks to demonstrate support for the Prime Minister among the 1.6 million-strong Indian community in Britain, “but increasing numbers of people are disturbed by the signs of deepening intolerance in India under Modi.”
“This is reflected in the wide range of dissenting activities which have been taking place in the UK recent weeks. Ahead of Modi’s visit, all the major South Asian and BME women’s organisations in the UK and more than 20 academics concerned with gender violence have written an open letter to Modi drawing attention to ‘the hate crimes, patriarchal violence and misogyny perpetrated by the RSS and its affiliated organizations’,” said Wilson.
She added, “Faculty, students and alumni of Cambridge have written to the vice-chancellor urging him not to host Modi in a planned address to the Senate, noting that the invitation comes at a time when ‘prominent Indian writers and intellectuals are returning their state honours in protest against the ongoing assault on civil liberties and academic freedom under Modi’s government’.”
“Meanwhile”, Wison said, “a petition addressed to Labour MPs Keith Vaz, Steve Pound, and Virendra Sharma, who announced that they would be donating their pay rises for November to help fund the Wembley extravaganza, has been launched. It asks them to reconsider their decision and instead donate the money to survivors of communal violence in India or alternatively to foodbank charities in the UK.”
Wilson further said, “In the run-up to Modi’s arrival, a Reclaim Diwali event will take place on Friday 6 November featuring a range of international artists. The organisers describe it as a ‘secular celebration of shared cultures, blurred boundaries, daring to dream and organising against oppression’ and funds raised will go the survivors of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.” And on November 10, “a number of London-based student organisations are jointly calling an event at SOAS called ‘We Need to Talk About Modi’.”
“This will culminate in a day of protest at Downing Street and Parliament Square on November 12, which thousands of people are expected to attend from across the country”, Wilson said, adding, this would happen when British Prime Minister David Cameron “is eager to roll out the red carpet for Modi and promote the interests of British corporates.”
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