VHP launches ‘Hindu safety helpline’ in Delhi amid rising tensions
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Thursday launched a “Hindu safety helpline” in the national capital, citing rising incidents of “violence and harassment” against the community. The organisation said the helpline — 9891061112 — is aimed at providing immediate assistance, guidance and support to those in need, adding that the service will not be available to Muslims and Christians.
Announcing the helpline at a press conference here, Delhi unit secretary Surendra Gupta said the move was prompted by a series of recent incidents of violence. “Such incidents have been rapidly increasing in Delhi. Since Holi on March 4, the organisation felt the need for a dedicated platform where people could report threats and seek help in real time. This helpline will start functioning from today, and our workers from Durga Vahini and Bajrang Dal will coordinate to provide assistance within the framework of the law. This service will be available to everyone except Muslims and Christians,” Gupta told reporters.
Kapil Khanna, VHP Delhi unit president, said the initiative is rooted in the organisation’s founding principles of “seva (service), suraksha (protection) and sanskar (values)”, and reiterated its stated position against caste-based discrimination, adding that all Hindus will be treated equally under the helpline. Explaining the mechanism, Gupta said the helpline will allow users to quickly register complaints.
“When a person sends a message like ‘Namaste” or ‘Jai Shri Ram‘ on WhatsApp, they will receive a reply containing a Google form. The form will seek details such as contact information, address, nature of the threat, and names of alleged perpetrators,” he said. The organisation said the helpline will address a range of issues, including physical threats, workplace discrimination, and other forms of harassment faced by Hindus. It also referred to instances it described as “corporate-level pressures“.
According to Gupta, once the information is received, it will be routed through the VHP’s organisational network down to the local level for verification and response. “As soon as we receive the information, it will be forwarded to the concerned area. Our volunteers will first verify the complaint. Only after being satisfied that it is genuine will we proceed to resolve the issue,” he said.
“We will ensure that our volunteers contact the person as quickly as possible and work to resolve the issue or challenge they are facing,” Gupta added. Explaining the rationale behind launching the helpline, Gupta said the initiative is intended to act as a bridge between citizens and law enforcement agencies, particularly in cases where victims are hesitant to approach authorities directly.
“The responsibility for security lies with the police and administration. But many times, due to delays, timely help is not provided. We will try to act as a bridge,” he said. The VHP leader said the helpline will also maintain the confidentiality of complainants and share information with authorities only when necessary. A day earlier, the Delhi unit of the RSS-affiliated organisation had sought coordinated action over alleged incidents of targeted violence. The VHP also said it is in the process of launching a mobile application to enable quick mobilisation of volunteers located within a 50-100 metre radius of an incident.
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