HfHR UK and Allies Call for Clarity Over “Bajrangdal” Sponsorship at Manchester Mandir

The following press release was issued by Hindus for Human Rights UK, South Asia Solidarity Group, South Asian Liberation Movement, and the UK-Indian Muslim Council in response to concerns raised by a Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple newsletter listing an upcoming event as “Sponsored by Bajrangdal.” While the meaning of the listing remains unclear, the name raises serious questions given the record of the Bajrang Dal in India and the wider presence of RSS-affiliated networks in the diaspora. The statement calls for transparency from the temple, urges British Hindu communities to reject Hindutva-aligned religious organizing, and affirms a vision of Hindu life grounded in pluralism, dignity, and justice.

PRESS RELEASE LONDON, UK — [June 1st, 2026] — It has come to our attention that the Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple, one of Manchester’s most prominent mandirs, has an upcoming event on 30th May, 2026 listed as being ‘Sponsored by Bajrangdal’. This listing was in an email sent out by the temple to its mailing list on 10 May, 2026. It is not clear what exactly “Bajrangdal” here refers to (Similarly, we do not know the extent of the meaning of “Sponsored by".  Often sponsoring an event at a mandir refers to making a donation or paying for the prasad or materials used in pooja or aarti). However, it is difficult not to read this and think about the Hindu far-right organisation called the Bajrang Dal, involved in large-scale violence in India, mostly against Muslims and other minorities. The Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a militant wing of the Hindutva organisation the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).  Together, the RSS and all its affiliates, wings, and sub-organisations make up the Sangh Parivar, which has had a central role in many of modern India’s most violent episodes including the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the demolition of the Babri Masjid, and the Gujarat 2002 massacres, carried out whilst India’s current prime minister Narendra Modi was Chief Minister of Gujarat state. The VHP operates in the UK as Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK (VHP UK) or World Council of Hindus UK (two separate charities with shared trustees).  Therefore, it would not be unreasonable to assume that the VHP UK is amenable to the development of operations of the Bajrang Dal in the UK, given that in India the Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the VHP.  RSS networks have been replicating themselves outside of India, in the diaspora, for many decades now.  A recent investigation found over 2,500 such organisations worldwide. This connection becomes even more plausible when the organisational structure and affiliations of the Manchester mandir are examined.  The Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple and the VHP UK have a shared trustee: Dr Nawal Kant Prinja. Prinja is listed as a trustee of the Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple, Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK, and World Council of Hindus UK. This is concerning.  This shows influence over a Hindu temple in the UK by an Indian, Hindu supremacist organisation.  We do not know of any explicit Bajrang Dal organising taking place under a UK counterpart organisation.  However, this mention of Bajrangdal in the newsletter of a mandir tied to the VHP UK raises serious questions that must be addressed. We, the undersigned, call on: - the Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple in Manchester to clarify what is meant by “Bajrangdal” in their event listing; - the Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple in Manchester to cease all links with the VHP UK, and; - British Hindus that reject Hindutva, far-right politics, and RSS-affiliated religious expression to express their opposition to this by writing to the Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple in Manchester, writing to their MPs, and stating their opposition publicly. Signed by: Hindus for Human Rights UK (HfHR UK) South Asia Solidarity Group (SASG) South Asian Liberation Movement (SALM) UK-Indian Muslim Council (UK-IMC) Media enquiries / interview requests Rajiv Sinha Director, Hindus for Human Rights UK Email: [email protected] Phone / WhatsApp / Signal: 07478 708 316 Press enquiries: Please include outlet, deadline, and interview format (live / recorded / print). Hindus for Human Rights UK (HfHR UK) is an education and advocacy organization rooted in the values of satya (truth), nyaya (justice), and shanti (peace). We work to advance human rights for all by opposing caste, Hindutva, religious nationalism, racism, and every form of bigotry justified in the name of faith. With affiliates around the world, HfHR brings together secular and religious Hindus—as well as allies of every background—to build a pluralistic future grounded in dignity and equality. We pursue this mission through policy advocacy, public education, interfaith partnerships, and cultural work that lifts up liberatory traditions within Hindu thought. If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please Unsubscribe  Hindus For Human Rights 300 Paseo De Peralta Suite 107 Santa Fe, NM 87501 United States       (Unsubscribing is not supported in previews)