NEW DELHI: More than 100 British Hindu and community organisations have welcomed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat to the UK, where he has arrived in London for the final leg of his three-nation tour.
The visit is part of a series of international outreach initiatives linked to the organisation’s centenary.
As Dr Bhagwat began his UK visit this week, the issue was also raised in the British Parliament. UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the visit met the “requirements” under the country’s immigration rules, responding to a written question on whether it had been fully assessed under the UK’s commitment to block hate preachers and extremists from entering the country.
Hindu Council UK, Hindu Forum of Britain, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK and INSIGHT UK were among the groups that issued a joint statement. “RSS is the largest voluntary organisation in the world, dedicated towards character building, volunteering, leadership, social cohesion and promoting global fraternity,” they said.
“RSS is known for its extensive social work, promoting equality, education in remote and inaccessible areas and to be the ‘first to respond’ organisation in situations of natural disaster. “We welcome the efforts taken by RSS under the leadership of Dr Bhagwat in promoting five transformations as part of the RSS centenary commemoration, which are relevant to all our communities: social harmony and cohesion; importance of family as a unit within society; self-less service; environmental stewardship; and diligent performance of civic duties,” they added.
British Security Minister Dan Jarvis said in a written parliamentary response on Thursday that Dr Bhagwat’s visit meets the conditions of the UK’s immigration rules.
The response came after British-Indian MP Nadia Whittome asked Parliament last week whether the visit had been fully reviewed in accordance with the relevant rules.
Conservative British MP Bob Blackman said he would be pleased to hear the RSS chief’s views on the organisation’s future. “Pleased to listen to the thoughts & ideas for the future of @RSSorg by RSS Chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat this evening,” Blackman said in a post on X.
Dr Bhagwat’s UK visit follows his appearance in New York last month, where he addressed around 6,000 members of Indian American organisations at the Infosys Theatre inside Madison Square Garden. At a “One World One Humanity”.
