London’s annual Diwali celebration, set for 12 October 2025 under the auspices of the Mayor’s office, continues to involve a network of organizations previously criticized for their associations with the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP-UK), a far-right Hindu nationalist group accused of instigating anti-Muslim violence in India. The celebration also includes the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), which faces allegations related to labor trafficking and caste-based exploitation in its overseas temples.
The Ilford Hindu Centre, part of the official Diwali in London (DiL) organizing committee, has seemingly removed explicit references to the VHP present in earlier years. However, its English name and motto—“Dharma protects those who uphold it”—still echo the VHP’s beliefs. The original Sanskrit phrase, Dharmo Rakṣati Rakṣitaḥ (धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः), is also employed by the VHP across its global branches.
A brief investigation reveals that the Ilford Hindu Centre acts as a registered base for the VHP-UK, indicating a direct link to a criticized network. The change in name does not diminish the group’s historical controversies.
A militant past and global network
Established in 1964 with the backing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a paramilitary organization accused of promoting Hindu supremacism in India, the VHP has been implicated in numerous instances of violence against religious minorities. A UK government inquiry cited in the BBC documentary India: The Modi Question alleged that the violence during the 2002 Gujarat pogrom, which resulted in over 2,000 deaths, was “planned, possibly in advance” by the VHP and its affiliates. The group is also associated with the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid and has a history of fomenting communal violence in India.
Other controversial partners
The Diwali 2025 committee includes several organizations that have attracted similar criticism. Among them is BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, which faces investigations concerning labor trafficking and exploitation of Dalit workers in U.S. temples, as reported by Al Jazeera and The New York Times. Another partner, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), has endorsed the Hindu Manifesto 2024 alongside the VHP, suggesting political alignment with Hindutva-linked groups in the UK.
Despite repeated calls for accountability, these organizations still collaborate with the Mayor’s Office to deliver what is marketed as “London’s Diwali.”
Criticism from Hindu and human rights groups
In the previous year, over 33 organizations and individuals signed an open letter directed at the Mayor of London, condemning the city’s collaboration with the VHP-UK and other groups aligned with Hindutva. The letter was endorsed by Hindus for Human Rights UK (HfHR UK), Scottish Indians for Justice (SIFJ), South Asia Solidarity Group (SASG), Indian Workers’ Association (IWA), UK-Indian Muslim Council (UK-IMC), India Labour Solidarity (ILS), and the Students’ Federation of India United Kingdom (SFI UK), along with support from academics and activists such as Dr. Subir Sinha of SOAS, University of London, and Yusuf Dawood, a survivor of the 2002 Gujarat violence.
The letter indicated: “The RSS and its auxiliaries in India, including the VHP, have been directly implicated in countless instances of deadly violence against dissidents and minorities,” characterizing the partnership as “a serious lapse in due diligence.” The Mayor’s Office did not provide substantive responses to these concerns, allowing VHP-linked organizations to continue their involvement in the festivities.
“An insulting and heinous collection of organisations”
Rajiv Sinha, Director of Hindus for Human Rights UK, remarked to Maktoob that the ongoing association of the VHP under a new name highlights deeper issues within London’s multicultural framework.
Sinha stated, “The only explanation is the cynical one,” asserting that the Mayor’s office has consciously chosen to engage with these organizations, which are perceived as representatives of Hindu society by elites but are opposed by many everyday Hindus in the UK. He described the coalition as “an insulting and heinous collection of organizations”, noting that it illustrates how “Hindutva influence has been emboldened in the UK since 2014.”
London’s Diwali celebration is frequently hailed as one of the largest outside India, symbolizing community and multicultural harmony. However, for many within the diaspora, the lingering question remains regarding the representation of Hinduism. Sinha emphasizes that the VHP and its affiliates represent only a narrow elite, stating, “The UK has around 1.2 million Hindus, and thousands of them are disturbed by this association.”
He concluded that the VHP does not reflect the majority will among Hindus, noting that political support for the BJP remains limited despite its prominence. “What we need are more organizations like Hindus for Human Rights UK to counter this narrative,” he asserted.
The original article was published by Maktoob media.
Tags: Diwali celebration, Hindutva, London events, cultural festival, community gathering
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