• A Hindutva mob stormed an event in Montreal titled, ‘Hindutva Fascism and its Impact on Minorities.’
• Hindutva extremists are mobilising on a global scale, amplifying their threat.
Hindutva mobs are increasingly manifesting in the diaspora. On August 15 in Montreal, Canada, over 70 radical supporters stormed an event titled “Hindutva Fascism and its Impact on Minorities,” intent on shutting down any discussion that dared to criticise their extremist beliefs. This incident follows the attack on Kashmiri activist Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur in London just last week. Thakur was assaulted after delivering a lecture titled ‘Kashmir Resistance in London,’ and walking back to his car.
The mob didn’t just attend the event to express dissent—they came prepared to disrupt, intimidate, and terrorise. They hurled insults at participants, pulled the fire alarm three times to interrupt the proceedings, and forced the arrival of firefighters and police. These tactics are not just disruptive; they are designed to instill fear and silence critics. By targeting an event that aimed to shed light on the dangerous implications of Hindutva, this mob sought to prevent any critical examination of their ideology. This was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern of escalating aggression by Hindutva supporters in the diaspora.
Hindutva: A Radical Ideology with Global Reach
Hindutva, a far-right ideology that advocates for a Hindu-dominant nation, has long been a source of violence and discrimination, where its proponents have persecuted Muslims and minorities. What is now becoming alarmingly clear is that the ideology is no longer confined to India’s borders. It is spreading rapidly among Indian diasporas in countries like Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, where such groups are becoming more organised, vocal, and more violent.
The Dangers of Hindutva Abroad
In November, U.S. authorities disclosed that an Indian government official had directed an unsuccessful plot to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist who holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada.
While the alleged plot to assassinate Pannun was unfolding in the U.S., another Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia on June 18, 2023.
India was publicly accused by Washington and Ottawa of involvement in the murder and assassination plot targeting Sikh figures.
Interestingly, a report which revealed that the U.S. government provided $833,000 in COVID-19 relief aid to five organisations linked to Hindu supremacist groups.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), based in Massachusetts, received over $170,000 in US taxpayer funded assistance, despite being ideologically affiliated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a group designated as a “religious militant organisation” by the United States’ CIA.
The global reach of Hindutva is further bolstered by the financial and organisational support these groups receive from networks in India and the diaspora. Organisations such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad-Canada, the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA)-Canada, and the Canadian Organisation for Hindu Heritage Education (COHHE) have played key roles in mobilising support for Hindutva abroad. These groups, under the guise of promoting Hindu culture and heritage, are actively spreading hate and intolerance, targeting anyone who challenges their ideology.
If left unchecked, the spread of Hindutva could exacerbate extremism, communal tensions and provoke further acts of violence, as recently witnessed on the streets of Leicester. Moreover, certain factions within society are increasingly emboldened to target Muslim minorities in England, mirroring the actions of the far right.
