By Imran Mulla
A leaked report produced by the UK Home Office stated that “Hindu nationalist extremism” played a part in the 2022 Leicester riots, identifying it as a proposed target for British counter-extremism efforts for the first time.
Details of the leaked internal review into the British government’s counter-extremism strategy were published on Monday by Policy Exchange, a right-wing think tank.
The Home Office review called for the scope of counter-extremism work to be widened to cover a range of causes and activities including Hindutva (Hindu nationalism), extreme misogyny, and a fascination with violence.
It advocated a focus on “behaviours and activity of concern” rather than ideologies.
But on Tuesday it was reported that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper did not agree with the recommendations of her department’s review and would order the focus of policy to remain directed towards Islamist and far-right extremism.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the leaked review did not reflect government policy.
“Many documents produced across Government as part of commissioned work are not implemented and do not constitute government policy,” Jarvis told MPs. “To be clear, the leaked documents were not current or new government policy.”
‘We hope this revelation from the leaked report supplies further grounds and inclination to tackle Hindu nationalism’
– Rajiv Sinha, Hindus for Human Rights UK
The review nonetheless marks the first time that Hindutva has been discussed in detail in a major policy document.
This story was originally published in middleeasteye.net. Read the full story here.
