A Hindu community leader said he was 'taken by surprise' after he learned about the nationalist views of a speaker who was due to attend an event in Nottingham. Hindu nationalist Sadhvi Ritambhara was due to speak at a number of venues across the UK, including the Hindu temple and community centre in Carlton Road, Nottingham - but all the events were cancelled amid tensions between communities in Leicester and Birmingham.
The Hindu Temple Nottingham announced on its social media that the event was cancelled three days before it was due to take place on September 21. It is understood Nadia Whittome MP had sent a letter to the Home Office expressing her concerns prior to the event.
Speaking of the decision, the Nottingham Temple's chairman, Rajesh Sharma, said: "Given the current situation, and the decay - we do not want anyone else coming in and alienating and worsening the situation.
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"I really want to emphasise that all the communities get on really well. Now we have had an open dialogue to address this and really do not want external influence coming in and upsetting the harmony that we have in Nottingham."
Mr Sharma said the UK tour was cancelled two weeks before the event. However, a spokesperson for Param Shakti Peeth of the UK (PSP) and organiser of the event, said the talk was cancelled because of Sadhvi Ritambhara's 'poor health'.
"She caught Covid while she was on a tour in the USA", she added. "So the tour in the UK was cancelled as a result.
"We are gutted of this rethoric and the protests that have been associated with her visit. Yes, she is a nationalist but so was Winston Churchill."
It follows reports of serious disorders in parts of East Leicester on Saturday, September 17 and on September 18 as large crowds formed after groups of young men began an unplanned protest. A similar protest between Hindu and Muslim groups has reportedly taken place in Birmingham on Tuesday (September 20).
Dr Musharraf Hussain, a Muslim leader in Nottingham, has described Sadhvi Ritambhara as an 'extremist speaker' who 'should not be allowed to come anywhere near our country'. He also addressed the backlash in other UK cities, adding: "I think there is a lot of copycatting and that we should condemn these protests on both sifdes.
"Anybody promoting hate should not be allowed here. People have freedom of expression as long as they are nicely and properly, while respecting everyone's culture and religion."
News of her visit prompted Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, to ask the Home Office to intervene and stop her tour. She added: “Last week I was contacted by a number of constituents raising concerns about an event in Nottingham that Sadhvi Rithambara was due to address, given that Ms Rithambara has been accused of inciting hatred and communal violence in India through her speeches.
“I wrote to the Home Secretary and to the venue, outlining my concerns about Ms Rithambara and the effect that this event could have on the local community. I was pleased that the event did not go ahead in the end.
“Nottingham is a city where people of different religions and cultures live together harmoniously, and it is of the utmost importance that these good relations are preserved. We must stand united against external influences which seek to sow division and hatred between friends and neighbours.”
Superintendent Kathryn Craner said: “Nottinghamshire Police have been speaking to communities throughout this period and would like to thank them for their engagement and advice."
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