A leaked document from the UK Home Office has identified Hindu nationalism and Khalistani extremism as two of the nine emerging threats in the country.
The report, first published by The Guardian, highlights growing concerns over these ideologies, marking the first time that Hindu nationalism has been officially recognised as a threat in the UK.
The report, which was prepared by a committee established in August 2024 by UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, mentions “Hindu nationalist extremism” and Hindutva for the first time as ideologies of concern. The report cites the 2022 riots in Leicester, where clashes occurred between British Hindus and British Muslims following an India-Pakistan Asia Cup match, as a key factor in this recognition.
The report, commissioned in August 2024, lists nine extremist threats to be tackled in the UK, which include: Islamist extremism, extreme right-wing ideologies, extreme misogyny, pro-Khalistan extremism, Hindu nationalist extremism, environmental extremism, left-wing extremism, anarchism, and single-issue extremism, as well as violence fascination and conspiracy theories.
The report expresses concerns over pro-Khalistan groups promoting violence and spreading harmful conspiracy theories, particularly those targeting Muslims and claiming collaboration between Britain and India against Sikhs. It also raises issues related to India’s actions abroad, such as allegations of violence against Sikhs in Canada and the US.
Despite the leak, Home Office Minister Dan Jarvis stated that there are no plans to change the definition of extremism and clarified that the report does not reflect current or new policy.
This is also the first time a government document has linked Hindu nationalism to the Leicester riots, although a Daily Mail report in May 2023 quoted unnamed security sources as saying that the violence was stoked by activists linked to India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Rajiv Sinha, director of Hindus for Human Rights UK, told Middle East Eye: “As Brits of Indian descent, and in my case as a proud Hindu, we hope this revelation from the leaked report supplies further grounds and inclination to tackle Hindu nationalism, which in its many forms poses a great threat to the stability of the United Kingdom.”
As per MEE report, the 2022 riots began when nearly 200 Hindu men wearing masks and balaclavas marched through Leicester’s Highfield area chanting “Jai Shri Ram”.
Following the march, some Muslims came out onto the streets, leading to scuffles between the two groups. The Policy Exchange report on Monday notes that the Home Office review places “Hindu nationalist extremism” under the spotlight.
