Bradford's Lord Mayor has sparked controversy by inviting a leader of Kashmir's independence movement to a civic reception in the city.

Ghazanfar Khaliq, who has Kashmiri origins, is to play host to the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yasin Malik when he visits on Monday. But the move has been heavily criticised by the Hindu Cultural Society, which described it as "hurtful and biased".

And Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton, said it might be "perceived as an insensitive time" to hold the function.

Coun Kaliq said it was normal practice to give a civic welcome to prominent visitors from overseas, and they had been given to guests from India and Pakistan in the past.

He said: "It is not political and it can be seen as a way of trying to bring communities together - any leading person who came to the city would get the same welcome."

The Liberation Front's UK secretary Azmat Khan, who lives in Bradford, said Mr Malik was the "Nelson Mandela" of Kashmir.

He said: "He is coming to Bradford at our invitation. He is looking for a negotiated peaceful settlement and is seen as the most moderate voice in Kashmir."

Kashmir has been the focal point of a long-running dispute between India and Pakistan. Both sides have laid claim to the territory but the Independence Movement believes there should be a referendum and it should be a devolved, independent state.

Hasmuck Shah, trustee of Bradford's Hindu Cultural Society, feared the move could cause a rift in the community.

"The Lord Mayor is the number one citizen, should be above politics and should represent all people, regardless of his personal feelings. He is hurting the sentiments of the people of Indian origin living in this city. The Lord Mayor should be concerned about the issues of Bradford - about healthcare, the condition of roads and social deprivation - rather than imported policies, creating disharmony."

And Coun Eaton said: "Bradford has diverse communities, and in the Asian subcontinent there are many views about Kashmir. When there is a desire among all communities in the district for greater tolerance and understanding, it could be perceived as an insensitive time to hold such a function."

But Mohammed Ajeeb, the district's and Britain's first Asian Lord Mayor, said: "The Lord Mayor is not creating a precedent - it is a general courtesy. There is a very sizeable Kashmiri community in Bradford and from time to time Lord Mayors do give welcomes to people from different parts of the world."