The reception came as the British government faced parliamentary questions over Bhagwat’s entry to the country. Security Minister Dan Jarvis said all people seeking admission to Britain must meet immigration requirements, while declining to discuss an individual case.
Hindu Council UK, Hindu Forum of Britain, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK and INSIGHT UK were among organisations issuing a joint statement supporting the visit. They described the RSS as a voluntary organisation focused on character building, volunteering, leadership, social cohesion and “promoting global fraternity”.
The groups also welcomed what they called five transformations promoted by Bhagwat during the RSS centenary: social harmony and cohesion, strengthening the family, selfless service, environmental stewardship and diligent performance of civic duties.
Bhagwat is expected to address a diaspora gathering during his stay in Britain. His London engagements follow stops in the United States and Canada, where the RSS has organised outreach events around its 100th anniversary.
The UK leg has also drawn opposition from a coalition of diaspora and civil society groups. Twenty-one organisations, including the South Asia Solidarity Group, UK Indian Muslim Council and Hindus for Human Rights UK, urged British authorities to boycott Bhagwat’s engagements and called for condemnation and sanctions against RSS figures and affiliates.
The groups sent representations to Britain’s envoy for freedom of religion or belief and to other officials, arguing that the RSS promotes a divisive form of Hindu nationalism and that Bhagwat’s visit could heighten tensions within Britain’s South Asian communities. Their assertions are disputed by RSS supporters, who portray the organisation’s work as centred on service, cultural identity and social cohesion.
The political scrutiny reached Parliament after Labour MP Nadia Whittome, who represents Nottingham East, asked the Home Office whether Bhagwat’s visit had been assessed under Britain’s “unacceptable behaviours” criteria for exclusion and whether it engaged the government’s commitment to prevent hate preachers and extremists from entering the country.
Jarvis, answering for the Home Office, said the department could not comment on individual cases. He said the government remained committed to addressing the full range of threats and acting against people who spread views promoting violence and hatred against individuals and communities.
The minister’s response did not disclose whether an exclusion assessment had been conducted in Bhagwat’s case. It stressed instead that anyone seeking entry must satisfy the immigration rules, leaving the government’s consideration of the application confidential.
The controversy follows Bhagwat’s appearance in New York, where his tour also prompted protests and opposition from interfaith and civil rights groups. At an event titled “One World One Humanity”, Bhagwat emphasised religious coexistence and argued that different faiths could follow different paths while sharing a common humanity.
The RSS said Bhagwat’s overseas programme was intended to advance dialogue with diaspora communities during its centenary year. The organisation, founded in 1925, has developed a network of affiliated bodies and has long exerted ideological influence on the Bharatiya Janata Party, which leads India’s government.
Critics of the RSS have accused it of advancing a majoritarian political project and of contributing to hostility towards religious minorities. The RSS rejects such characterisations and says its conception of Hindutva is cultural and civilisational rather than exclusionary.
The sharply different reactions surrounding Bhagwat’s tour have therefore followed him across the three countries. Supporters have highlighted his messages on social unity, family life, civic responsibility and service, while opponents have pressed governments and public institutions to scrutinise his appearances and the RSS’s record.
British supporters said the organisation’s centenary programme had relevance beyond its own membership, particularly in the areas of community service and environmental responsibility. Their statement also praised RSS work in education and disaster response, claims presented by the organisations as part of their case for welcoming Bhagwat.
