The Scottish Parliament has unanimously passed Motion S6M-17089 the first of its kind in the United Kingdom to acknowledge and combat rising Hinduphobia. This watershed moment was brought forward by Ash Regan, Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Edinburgh Eastern and member of the Alba Party, and backed by a rare display of cross-party unity.
“This motion isn’t just symbolic—it’s a demand for tangible change,” declared Regan during her moving address to the chamber, calling for Scotland to confront the “alarming levels of prejudice, marginalisation, and discrimination” that Hindus in the country continue to face.
The motion was inspired by a first-of-its-kind parliamentary-recognised report titled “Hinduphobia in Scotland: Understanding, Addressing, and Overcoming Prejudice,” authored by Dhruva Kumar, Anuranjan Jha, Sukhi Bains, Ajit Trivedi, and Neil Lal. Backed by the Gandhian Peace Society (GPS) and the Indian Council of Scotland and UK, the report has become a pivotal document in the struggle against anti-Hindu sentiment in the West.
Compiled with brutal honesty and backed by empirical data, the report offers a chilling snapshot of the rising tide of hate Hindus face in Scotland—ranging from temple vandalism and cultural erasure to workplace discrimination and casual slurs targeting faith-based traditions.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS
Scotland creates history — Parliament PASSES first-ever motion to tackle 'Hinduphobia'.
— NO mercy for Hindu haters in Scotland 🔥 pic.twitter.com/iXDKgc7BZ6
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) April 20, 2025
“This report is a mirror held up to our society,” said Neil Lal, President of the Indian Council of Scotland and UK. “When temples are defaced, when schoolchildren are bullied for practising their faith, it’s not just Hindus under attack—it’s the very essence of Scottish pluralism.”
Authored with academic rigour and grassroots insights, the report has received praise from major civic figures including Professor Peter Hopkins and Chair Foysol Choudhary of Holyrood’s Cross-Party Group on Challenging Racial and Religious Prejudice. The document is not just a call for reflection but a demand for systemic reform.
Speaking to a wave of international media, Dhruva Kumar, one of the principal authors of the report and political activist based in Glasgow, underscored the historical importance of the motion: “As Scotland reckons with its commitment to inclusivity, Ash Regan’s motion sets a precedent: religious harmony is not passive, it is fought for, legislated, and cherished.”
Kumar’s words have resonated deeply, particularly among the Indian diaspora, who see this legislative move as a long-overdue recognition of growing anxieties over Hinduphobia not just in Scotland, but across Europe.
MSPs from across the political spectrum—Colin Beattie, Stephanie Callaghan, Kevin Stewart, and more—stood behind the motion, sending a rare and unified message of solidarity with Scotland’s Hindu community. Such unity has also inspired faith leaders and cultural ambassadors, including Acharya Dr. Abhishek Joshi, Rashmi Rai, and Poonam Prajapati.
“This isn’t the end,” said Joshi. “It’s the beginning of a journey that must lead to legal, educational, and social transformation.” Even Scottish author and cultural commentator Aline Dobbie weighed in, calling the motion “a hopeful moment for anyone who believes in a fairer, more inclusive Scotland.”
The Gandhian Peace Society’s report doesn’t stop at problem-identification. It lays down a decisive roadmap for Scotland’s policymakers:
- Legal Reform: Amend Scotland’s Hate Crime Act to explicitly recognise Hinduphobia.
- Education: Incorporate accurate, non-stereotyped teachings of Hinduism into school curricula.
- Workplace Policy: Mandate religious accommodation, anti-bias training, and equitable hiring practices.
- Community Engagement: Build interfaith networks and create support hubs for victims of religious abuse.
The ripples of this development have gone far beyond Holyrood. From radio debates on Awaz FM 107.2 to diaspora-led town halls in London and Delhi, the conversation around Hinduphobia has been irreversibly transformed.
“Gandhiji taught us that non-violence includes combating ignorance,” said Jha and Kumar in a joint statement. “By addressing Hinduphobia, we’re not just standing up for Hindus—we’re reinforcing the very principles of unity and humanity.”
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