Hindu Council UK AGM held at 2PM on 22 September 2024
at The Brent Indian Association, 116 Ealing Road, Wembley, HA0 4TH (invitations also sent via Zoom)
HCUK Directors/trustees:
- Krishna Bhan (Chair)
- Anil Bhanot (Managing Trustee)
- Chris Gopaul (Treasurer)
- Dipen Rajyaguru (Director for Equality)
- Moorthyji – On telephone he asked M P Nathan ji to fill in for him
Members Present: Representatives came from the Temples Derby, Reading, Bedford, Leicester, Southampton and across London. Due to the heavy and constant rain we had several apologies but the turnout included other umbrella organisations and in spite of the rain, with 25 people coming to the venue from across the country the debate had was lively and purposeful.
Arrival and Welcome
Krishna Bhan (Chair, HCUK) opened the AGM, welcoming attendees, introducing fellow Directors, and nominating Dipen Rajyaguru as the Moderator.
Dipen Rajyaguru, read out the Agenda for the AGM
Introductions and Prayer
Anil Bhanot provided the attendees with a ‘bundle’ and a presentation outlining the Constitution focusing a breach of its 2 key clauses by 3 out of the 8 trustees on central positions rotations after 2 max terms of 3 years and a maximum of 2 representatives from each temple/organisation, since HCUK is a national Umbrella body. It was suggested that not having a rotation of key positions, specifically the Chair and General secretary, causes stagnation.
Dipen Rajyaguru stated that the former-Chair and General secretary are in breach of the Constitution and have acted ultra vires (beyond their powers) and this had a detrimental impact on Hindu’s.
Legal Action
Anil Bhanot gave a further outline of the current situation since the last legitimate AGM of 30 July 2023 after which meetings were held with the former-Chair and General secretary to resolve the situation. Krishna Bhan (Chair, HCUK) tried to contact the General secretary to get the Charity Commission codes that he held and was refusing to pass them on. Due to the non-compliance of the reasonable requests Anil Bhanot contacted the Charity Commission on behalf of the HCUK who suggested that HCUK resolve this internal trustees’ dispute or take legal action. As a final effort to resolve the situation we decided on Mediation (31 May 2024) with the illegitimate party (this was at a considerable financial cost to Anil Bhanot). Despite the best efforts of the Mediator the mediation failed due to the reluctance of the other party wanting a rational and reasonable solution (giving up their positions but remaining members of the HCUK).
Chris Gopaul said he also arranged a reconciliation meeting between Anil Bhanot and the former chair Umesh Sharma on 1 December 2023, in which Umeshji agreed to step down and accept Krishnaji as chair. But Anil Bhanot said that afterwards Umesh Sharma changed his mind and did not honour that agreement.
There was consensus amongst the attendees that we had followed all reasonable steps and due processes. Furthermore, the meeting established that we continue to function as the legitimate HCUK and pursue actions required to get the Charity Commission codes.
Reconstitution of the Board
Dipen Rajyaguru suggested that at this time we confirm a new member to the Board of Directors/trustees. Krishna Bhan proposed Nathan ji and seconded by Dipen Rajyaguru, Nathan ji then introduced himself to the meeting and detailing his involvement as a long-standing Executive member of the HCUK (which is an eligibility criterion within the Constitution, ignored by the other party as the process to nominate Directors/trustees which is they serve minimum of 2 three year terms as Executive members first). Nathan ji represents the Britannia Hindu Temple Mandir in Archway and the Saiva Federation of Tamil Temples. The meeting unanimously approved the motion for Nathan ji to be a director/trustee.
Nathan ji spoke and informed about his activities. He also mentioned that he did go to the disputed party’s AGM of 8 July 2023, not knowing the dispute then, and there were hardly many people there except their own and then they appointed their own people – he said in their own Saiva Federation an umbrella body of Tamil temples only two maximum representatives are allowed from each temple.
Dipen Rajyaguru explained the illegitimacy of their 8 July 2023 meeting as it contravened the agenda set by the pre-AGM directors/trustees meeting of 11 June 2023 which had proposed Krishna Bhan to take over the position of Chair – it was then that the former chair called his own meeting to consolidate his power, what appears to be like a ‘life-position’.
The members present were aghast at the former chair and general secretary and their supporter 3rd trustee’s illegitimate workings to hijack an umbrella body. Anil Bhanot informed that although his remit is only to salvage HCUK, the same trustees have already occupied our sister umbrella organization, the National Council of Hindu Temples, to be at their Ram Mandir Southall, with positions from their colleagues and relatives. The community members were further shocked and asked for their removal from HCUK.
Dipen Rajyaguru then proposed the next motion to formally recognise that the former-Chair and General secretary (having well surpassed their terms) can no longer act in those positions with immediate effect. Furthermore, to ensure that that any action or in-action no longer is detrimental to the functioning of the HCUK and the Hindu community in the UK, that requests for relevant codes and information should not be withheld. Krishna Bhan seconded the motion and it was resolved unanimously to remove the three dissenting directors/trustees, Umesh Shama, Rajnish Kashyap, Mahanta Shestha with immediate effect – Mahantaji in fact did nothing for HCUK, he was just a name on the website to support Umeshji. Now Surya ji Upadhaya is earmarked to represent the Napalese Hindu issues and he brought other people from the Napalese temples and community, thus already working to rebuild the HCUK.
Accounts 2023/24
The Accounts were presented by the Treasurer Chris Gopaul, along with representative forms by Anil Bhanot. These were noted and approved. The above resolutions on the Board were agreed to be updated to the Accounts before signing.
Following the Accounts was a break for refreshment and networking.
Plenary Debate on the Way Forward
Much was discussed during the earlier part of the meeting regarding the way forward. Therefore, Dipen Rajyaguru summed up some of the key points discussed. Additionally, it was suggested that we update the Constitution.
Anil Bhanot distributed membership forms, reminding the attendees that the HCUK wants to ensure a continuity of membership organisations and reiterating that it will be only two representatives per organisation. There was also a form for individual members, who should be able to add value to the HCUK either in a professional or activist capacity and prevent cronyism.
Kashmiri Hindus Martyrs Day Commemoration
Krishna Bhan gave an insightful history of the plight of the Kashmiri pandits and update of current issues. She ended this session with a poignant 1-minute silence for the victims of the genocide.
The BBC’s representation of Hinduism
Anil Bhanot gave a view that the BBC showed signs of Hinduphobia regarding the reporting of Ram Mandir Ayodhya and its adverse reporting on the Bangladesh Hindus. He said many people contacted him personally and they individually wrote letters to BBC also but there seems to be a standard reply to everyone that BBC acts fair. In this case, ‘fair’ means they interview the opposing argument but the people they choose to interview are on one side soft-Islamists and on the other who are unaware of the hidden agenda what seems like a soft Hinduphobia.
However, Anil suggested that BBC is an important institution and we are asking for a reform in its diversity policy only, not de-funding as some members advocate. He said there are a whole host of positive people and positive programmes which we praise, like Asad Ahmed of BBC London recently did a positive report on the Krishna Avanti school in Harrow for teaching a wholesome curriculum including yoga and meditation for wellbeing.
Attendees suggested that the BBC should take notice of Hindu concerns, and we represent a united voice. Anil Bhanot said that the HCUK needs to be involved again with the BBC Charter review and on this issue we were not helped with the lack of enthusiasm of the other dissenting party of three trustees who did not want to challenge any bias.
Vote of thanks
The Chair Krishna Bhan ended the AGM and thanked the Brent Indian Association for use of their facilities, the Trustees, and attendees.
5.00pm: Ends
[Next Years’s AGM the Zoom facilities will be accommodated for fully to counter any adverse weather conditions, though for the face to face debates a temple with parking facilities will be requested.]
New Executive @ 22 September 2024
| BOARD of DIRECTORS: | |
| Mrs Krishna Bhan | Chair |
| Mr Anil Bhanot | Managing Trustee |
| Mr Coossialsing Goapul | Treasurer |
| Mr Dipen Rajyaguru | Diversity and Inclusion |
| Mr A Moorthy | Hindu Tamil Community |
| Mr M P Nathan | Saiva Federation of Tamil Temples |
| EXECUTIVE OFFICERS: | |
| Surya Upadhaya | Nepalese Community |
| EXECUTIVE MEMBERS: | |
| Mr Dilip Joshi MBE | Equality and Representation |
| Mr Amrit Lal Bhardwaj | Arya Samaj London |
| EXECUTIVE REPRESENTATIVES: | |
| Neeraj Joshi and Sandeep Shinde | Derby Hindu Temple |
| Yogesh Teli | Asiana Charitable Trust |
| REPRESENTATIVES: | |
| Surinder Sund and Atma Ram Dhanda | Ravidassyia Community |
| Mr V Ravi | British Tamil Forum |
| Arun Thakar | NCHT |
| Pratik Dattani | India Bridge |
| Anita Ruparelia | Asian Foundation for Help |
| Note: A new Drive to rebuild HCUK Representatives from our Affiliates and British Hindu Organisations to follow during 2024/25 | |