by Muhammad Ahmad Khan 23 March 2023
Sunil Ambekar writes in “The RSS: Roadmaps for the 21st Century,” that Rashtirya Swayamsevak Sangh is one of the largest non-state organizations in the world. Back in 1920s, Savarkar himself was not much sure that his thoughts that actually occurred to him in his time in jail, would emerge so strong to have influence not just in the subcontinent but across the world. Through this whole century, RSS has evolved itself and has emerged as one of the influential populists but extremist movement in India. It is pertinent to understand that RSS has multiple wings ranging from social to financial and political. Bhartiya Janata Party is the political wing of RSS. It shows that RSS is the wider tree to which BJP and other extremist organization belongs. According to reports, this extremist organization is not just visible in India but want influence across the globe seeking worldwide aura. This is of particular concern for the international community because has a different kind of agenda which some analysts refers to the fascists’ time. Socially and domestically, the organization has been found in continued violation of human rights against religious and social minorities. Muslims, Christians and Sikhs have been targeted in India by these influencers. When these agendas are taken out of India, it creates challenges for the other countries as well. Regional especially feels threatened because of the narrative of Akhand Bharat and Greater India, RSS promulgates. So must be of concern when the organization reaches the countries in other continents.
In view of menacing emergence of RSS in Canada, a report has been published by National Council of Canadian Muslims and the World Sikh Organization of Canada. Both organizations have cautioned Canadian Government of the pervasive presence of extremist Hindu outfit that has been on a loose leash against Muslims, Christians and other minorities. Canada shouldn’t allow a movement originating from India that disseminates hate and victimizes religious minority groups to entrench itself in this country. RSS poses a major challenge to Canadian commitments to human rights, tolerance & multiculturalism. Its activists also created law and order situations in UK and other countries. Outfit is seeking to shrink space for Muslims and other minorities in Western capitals. Presence/ entrenchment of RSS and its affiliates in Canada has already resulted in a litany of Islamophobic, anti-Sikh, and caste-based incidents in Canada. Such incidents carry greater resemblance with communal tensions being exploited/ exacerbated by RSS in India. Hindutva movement by RSS and its large network of affiliates (Sangh Parivar) trying to present its agenda ‘as agenda of all global Hindus’. This is both impossible and completely false. Electoral success of BJP and its deep ties with RSS helped smuggle Hindutva’s discriminatory vision to world’s diverse regions from ‘margins to the mainstream’ with devastating results.
RSS antagonism against Muslims, Sikhs, Christians & Dalits became socially legitimized, emboldened, & now threatens to destabilize India’s large diaspora both here in Canada & elsewhere. Canadian leaders should not allow individuals/ organization pushing Hindutva vision of India—a supremacist vision discriminating against minorities leading to mass bloodshed—entrench themselves in this country. Extremist outfit’s presence will perpetuate supremacist ideologies and would antagonize relations between large faith-based communities in Canada. And this must not only be the concern of Canada, rather other countries as well. States must try to debunk this extremist ideology extending out of India.
It must be noted that RSS holds a very extensive interference in political situations in countries like US, UK and Canada also. In UK elections, RSS members have been actively campaigning in bringing a conservative leader. Same happened in the US when Trump was elected as Hindu Republican Coalition campaigned for him chanting the slogan in favor of Trump. These countries must get conscious about the interference of RSS as it not only impact just the political outcome rather the policies that will be shaped afterwards.