ICC Note:
The British government revoked the visas issues to two Hindu radical speakers who were planning to attend a Hindu convention in Britain. The visas were revoked after evidence was brought to the government’s attention regarding the radical ideology propagated by the two speakers. Among the evidence were translated YouTube videos of the speakers. Radicals in India continue to make hate speeches against the country’s minorities, including Christians. Will this action taken by the British government show India that this will not be tolerated?
5/6/2015 India (UCAN) – The British government has revoked visas issued to two prominent members of right-wing Hindu organizations in the south Indian state of Kerala after the Indian community here filed complaints against their visit.
Sasikala Teacher, chairperson of Kerala-based Hindu Aikya Vedi (United Hindu Front), and N. Gopalakrishnan, director of Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage, were invited to attend the first Hindu Religious Conference at Croydon in London.
The British consulate in Chennai revoked the visas issued to both the leaders after a section of the Indian community complained about their campaigns on radical Hindutwa ideology, London-based Asian Lite newspaper reported.
Translations of the two leaders’ YouTube speeches and other social media messages were handed over to the authorities.
Britain had earlier denied visa to Narendra Modi for his alleged involvement as the Gujarat chief minister in the 2002 riots but changed the stance when he became the prime minister. Britain is following a tough policy on radical preachers and activists after many of them fuelled young minds with right-wing religious ideas.
The British Home Office earlier denied visa to Zakir Naik, a controversial Islamic preacher from Mumbai, on similar grounds. The Home Office said the controversial preacher’s visit would spoil the community cohesion activities in Britain.
Kerala-based Hindu Aikya Vedi and Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage are closely associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parent organization of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Both Sasikala and Gopalakrishnan were known for their controversial speeches based on right-wing Hindu ideology.
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