By Areeb Ullah
The United Kingdom’s Leicestershire police force is facing calls to revoke an award it presented to a Hindu preacher who has advocated for India to be a Hindu-only state.
Leicestershire police presented the award to Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, also known as Bageshwar Dham Baba, on 22 July, after he spoke at an event in a Hindu community centre in the English city of Leicester.
While hundreds of locals gathered outside the venue, Shastri, a self-proclaimed spiritual healer, referred to India as a “Hindu Rashtra” or a pure Hindu state – a common rallying cry among Hindutva activists who advocate for a state without any Christians or Muslims.
“Victory to India’s Hindu nation,” he told the crowd.
“You all stay awake. Hinduism is something we need to raise across the world,” he added.
Shastri would later post a picture on social media where he was holding a framed award from Leicestershire police showing an “NPA Commanders Award for Recognition of Service.”
The decision to grant Shastri the award garnered criticism from politicians and members of the Muslim community, and comes as the Indian government continues its crackdown on religious minorities, particularly members of the minority Muslim population…
This story was originally published in middleeasteye.net. Read the full story here