Playing a Victim Card? Muslim Council of Britain calls for action against the Hindu community of Leicester

Playing the victim card, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has come forward to issue a press statement calling for action against the Hindu community over the anti-Hindu attacks in Leicester. In the statement by Secretary-General of the council Zara Mohammed, a Scottish faith leader of Pakistani origin, the MCB called Hindus "far-right extremists" for chanting "Jai Shri Ram".

 

 

MCB expressed "deep concerns" over the rise of violent right-wing Hindutva extremism. "In the past few days, there has been a heightening of tensions among the diverse communities of Leicester, as concerns grow about the rise of violent right-wing Hindutva extremism taking root locally," it said in a statement. However, it is radical Islamists who are hunting down Hindu houses and attacking religious places.

 

 

In an indirect dig at Hindus, it also said that "Hindu extremists" not only Muslims but also Sikhs. "On Saturday, September 17th, groups of balaclava-clad men led a march, chanting slogans rooted in hindutva nationalist supremacism, along Green Lane Road – a predominantly Muslim and Sikh populated area," it said.

 

Misleading the public by propogating an agenda against Hindus, it added, "This follows a series of provocations, including: chanting outside Mosques, targeted mob attacks on Muslims, and vandalism to homes and businesses over recent months. Groups of young people from both communities have subsequently come out on the streets to protest, resulting in physical altercations and running battles."

 

 

It also criticised the local police who according to them failed to disperse the mobs. "Whilst faith leaders have shared statements of solidarity and appealed for calm, there is criticism locally of the perceived inaction of law enforcement officers, who failed to disperse the mobs, despite long-standing concerns being raised," it said. "At least 47 people have been arrested as of now; tensions still remain among local groups, and demonstrations continue. There is now a concern of this toxic brand of extremism, imported from India, spreading to other cities," according to them.

 

Zara Mohammed said in the statement, "Communities have expressed their deep concerns to me around the propaganda perpetuated by far-right groups in India and their Hindutva agenda, which we are now seeing expressed on British streets. These provocations have targeted Muslims, Sikhs and other minorities and as a result, instigated hostilities between local communities in Leicester."

 

 

Leicester City has faced a sharp increase in organized attacks against the Hindu community. The violence by radical Islamists began soon after India clinched victory against Pakistan in the group stage match of the Asia Cup on August 28. Soon after this, a Hindu temple came under attack by Islamists in Leicester last week. In a viral video, one extremist was seen uprooting a saffron flag affixed to the temple structure.