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British Muslims for Secular Democracy (bmsd) Concern over the Links between the Commission on Integration and Cohesion (CIC) and Hindu Fundamentalist Organisations

12/06/2007

British Muslims for Secular Democracy (bmsd) is deeply concerned after it emerged in the media that the Commission on Integration and Cohesion (CIC) set up by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has members who have strong links with Hindu fundamentalist and extremist organisations.

bmsd is strongly against all forms of religious extremism and is worried to find that one of the CIC's commissioners, Ramesh Kallidai is linked to Hindu extremist organisations such as Vishva Hindu Prasad (VHP) and is the Secretary General of its British partner organisation British Hindu Forum (BHF). He is reported to have been a speaker at many of their events as well as organisations such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) whose leadership draws inspiration from the treatment of Jews at the hands of Hitler, aspires to purge India of all Muslims in a similar fashion and has offensive and discriminatory views towards Muslims in other parts of the world.

The association of Mr Kallidai to Hindu fundamentalist and extremist organisations and the support offered by British government ministers and officials to them is extremely worrying for not just for bmsd but also to other peace loving moderate organisations and members of the public.

Dr Shaaz Mahboob of bmsd said, "working with groups coming from fundamentalist root is counterproductive. Instead of creating cohesion in the society they can only polarize the society even further. The Government should seriously reconsider its policy".