In the name of charity, British public is funding Hindutva extremism

In Bad Faith: British Charity and Hindu Extremism
Published by Awaaz South Asia Watch Limited (London) 2004
ISBN 0 9547174 0 6

In the name of charity, British public is funding Hindutva extremism

A report [...] launched on the second anniversary of the horrific Gujarat carnage in 2002 presents alarming new evidence that under the cloak of humanitarian charity, massive donations from the British public were sent to Fascist-inspired Hindu extremist groups involved or directly implicated in serious, large-scale violence or hatred in India.

Prepared by Awaaz - South Asia Watch Ltd, a London-based secular network, the report In Bad Faith? British Charity and Hindu Extremism, says UK organisations have been raising funds in the name of charity for natural disasters like earthquakes, and giving them to extremist organisations that preach hatred against Muslims and Christians.

The report, which is available now, demonstrates that the UK-based Sewa International sent £2 million for the devastating earthquake in the Indian state of Gujarat in 2001, to its Indian counterpart Sewa Bharati, a front for the secretive, violent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Money from the UK was given to RSS front organisations that are involved or implicated in serious violence or hate politics in India. Much of the money was spent on schools that promote hatred and fanaticism.

“Gandhi’s murderer was an RSS activist. Most British donors would be horrified if they knew the nature, history and ideas of the RSS. Individuals raised funds and donated in good faith to Sewa International’s Gujarat earthquake appeals but would not have done so had they known that the organisation raising the money was closely linked to the Fascist-inspired and secretive Indian RSS”, says Awaaz.

Sewa International is not registered as a British charity, but is the fundraising arm of the registered charity Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), the UK branch of the RSS. The report exposes the connections of the HSS, Sewa International and the Kalyan Ashram Trust (another registered charity) to violent and extremist groups in India. The RSS, its closely allied family of organisations and their followers have been involved in the persecution or killing of thousands of Muslims and Christians in India over the past fifteen years. They are known to have planned and executed anti-Muslim pogroms in the Indian state of Gujarat in 2002, in which 2,000 people were killed and 200,000 displaced. An independent investigation headed by a former Chief Justice of India called the Gujarat violence a “genocide”. Victims included British citizens. The RSS family considers religious minorities especially Muslims and Christians to be foreigners, aliens and polluters who have no right be treated as equal citizens of India.

“Sewa International has tried to dupe politicians, donors and the general public. Its main purpose is to fund, expand and glorify hate-driven RSS organisations, several of which have been at the forefront of large scale violence, pogroms or hate campaigns in India. Its claim to be a non-sectarian, non-political, non-religious humanitarian charity is a sham,” said Awaaz spokesperson Suresh Grover.

In the thoroughly documented report, Awaaz clearly establishes the strong ties between British charities and extremist organisations in India. It has called for the Charity Commissioner to withdraw the charity status of three British charities: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) UK, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) UK, and the Kalyan Ashram Trust. The Leicester-based Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh and Sewa International are currently being investigated by the UK Charity Commission.


FOR MORE INFORMATION email contact@awaazsaw.org.

The full report is available at
www.awaazsaw.org/ibf/index.htm
www.awaazsaw.org/ibf/ibflores.pdf