LONDON — A coalition of 15 UK-based civil society organisations has urged London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the UK Foreign Office to boycott events featuring Mohan Bhagwat, the leader of India’s right-wing nationalist organization, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), during his current visit to the United Kingdom.
In an official joint letter, the diaspora and human rights groups fiercely opposed the visit, describing the RSS as "an authoritarian and militarist group which drew explicit inspiration from European fascism."
Call for Boycott
The coalition—which includes Hindus for Human Rights UK, the UK-Indian Muslim Council, and the South Asia Solidarity Group—is demanding that public venues managed by the Greater London Authority deny space to events associated with the RSS chief.
The campaign has drawn prominent political backing, including support from former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Signatories argue that hosting the leader of a paramilitary group known for majoritarian politics poses a direct threat to the UK’s multicultural cohesion.
Historical Links Highlighted
The controversy centers heavily on the historical roots of the RSS, founded in 1925. Historians and critics frequently point to two foundational influences to support the coalition's characterization:
- The Italian Fascist Model: In 1931, early RSS mentor B.S. Moonje met with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and modeled the RSS structure on Italy's fascist youth military academies.
- Ideological Texts: The group’s highly influential second chief, M.S. Golwalkar, drew parallels in his 1939 writings to Nazi Germany’s nationalist policies.
RSS Rejection of Claims
The RSS and its UK affiliates have strongly rejected the coalition’s allegations. Representatives maintain that the RSS is a strictly cultural and social service organization dedicated to character building and national unity. Supporters argue that the comparison to European fascism is an outdated mischaracterization that ignores the group's extensive humanitarian, charitable, and disaster-relief work across India.
The Greater London Authority and the Foreign Office have yet to release a formal statement regarding the boycott request as Bhagwat's UK tour continues.
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