Tensions sparked off in Smethwick city of England after about 200 individuals, principally Muslims, held a protest on exterior a Hindu temple, Sky Information reported. One of many agitators reportedly threw a bottle on the web site of the protest, however the state of affairs calmed down later.
The protest exterior the Durga Bhawan temple had been held after there emerged “considerations round a speaker” who was to deal with a gathering on the venue, the police mentioned. However the occasion was cancelled and the speaker is not within the UK, the police added.
Some Twitter customers mentioned that Hindutva supremacist chief Rithambara was slated to offer a speech.
Rithambhara was one of many accused individuals within the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case. Earlier this month, a church in United States’ New Jersey cancelled a fundraising occasion that includes in response to public outcry.
BREAK: Round 200 individuals, primarily Muslims, have arrived exterior the Durga Bhawan Hindu Centre in Smethwick, West Mids – one bottle has been thrown though the state of affairs has calmed barely for now. There’s a rising police presence @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/uLzKrsiqVi
— Dan Whitehead (@danwnews) September 20, 2022
The Smethwick Police mentioned on Tuesday that they had been taking measures to “discover the proper stability between the rights of protestors and people of native residents and companies, whereas working to minimise severe disruption to communities”.
The protests in Smethwick got here days after after tensions between Hindus and Muslims within the metropolis of Leicester that erupted following an India and Pakistan cricket match on August 28. A flare-up was additionally reported on September 17 between Hindus and Muslims after an unauthorised protest march was held within the metropolis.
On Monday, Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe had warned that such clashes may unfold past town except the central authorities and police intervened, in line with The Guardian. She mentioned that ministers should clamp down on “extremist proper wing ideology” and misinformation on social media.
“The truth is that we now have fringe parts led and impressed by extremism and proper wing ideology rearing its head within the UK and within the peaceable metropolis of Leicester,” Webbe mentioned. “If we don’t perceive the foundation trigger this can unfold past Leicester to different areas.”
On Monday, the Indian Excessive Fee in London had sought speedy motion towards these concerned within the assaults. Nevertheless, whereas criticising the violence, the Excessive Fee solely talked about the “vandalization of premises and symbols of Hindu faith”, regardless that movies on social media confirmed that the Muslim neighborhood had additionally been attacked.
