Berlin: Gujarat and what is perceived in Germany as an emerging threat of "Hindu fundamentalism" appear to be deterring Germans from investing in India despite the fact that political relations between the two countries saw highest level exchanges this year.

During the ongoing Asia-Pacific festival in Berlin, several industrialists and bureaucrats had many searching questions about Gujarat riots and were of the opinion that the events had sent a bad signal to investors in Germany.

The official machinery of the German government is also closely watching the situation in Gujarat including the trials that were taking place post-riot.

The growing Hindu fundamentalism needs to be checked immediately and India should maintain its secular credentials, is the message of German foreign office officials.

On the sidelines of the festival, which was India-specific this year, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Institute, whose close links with the ruling Socialist Democratic Party were well established, organised a seminar "Hindu Nationalism – A threat to India's Secular Democracy".

The message is clear to India from Germany, which is the third best country economy wise, to extinguish the flames of communal violence immediately.

Interestingly, the two-day seminar was attended on the second day by Head of Division in South Asia Bernd Borchardt and Indian desk in-charge Heike Dettmann.

PTI