A report by a U.S.-based human rights group, Justice for All, suggests that the emergence of Hindu nationalist sentiment in India resembles the proliferation of fascist ideology observed in Nazi Germany. This observation encompasses multiple factors, such as the purported stifling of opposing viewpoints, acts of aggression towards religious minority groups, and using provocative language by specific political figures.

When Narendra Modi assumed the position of Prime Minister in India in 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prioritized disseminating the Hindutva ideology, which reached its zenith during the BJP's tenure. The Hindutva ideology encompasses an ultra-nationalist and religious-extremist philosophy that emphasizes the promotion of Hindu values and the assertion of Hindu supremacy against the constitution of India which inculcates the values of Indian nationalism. On the one hand, India takes pride in being a secular country and presents itself as the so-called world’s largest democratic nation on the global stage. However, it is worth noting that the Indian government is currently implementing non-democratic fascist policies that predominantly favor the Hindu population, potentially posing challenges for religious minorities, mainly the Indian Muslims.¹
Regrettably, the BJP, the political arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), appears to be endeavoring to alter the democratic landscape of India while reportedly employing state institutions to suppress the Muslim community on a significant scale.² As per the statement of Adama Dieng, United Nation’s special advisor on the prevention of genocide, genocide is a process and the holocaust did not start with gas chamber,s rather it started with hate speech. In addition, RSS is opting the same pattern of genocide and hate speech against Muslims. The safety and well-being of Muslims and other minority groups in contemporary India are under considerable threat. Indian Muslims are currently experiencing lack of political representation in both the upper and lower houses. Furthermore, the Constitution of India has proven ineffective in safeguarding religious minorities from the adverse impacts of the Hindutva ideology.³

The Hindutva ideology encompasses an ultra-nationalist and religious-extremist philosophy that emphasizes the promotion of Hindu values and the assertion of Hindu supremacy against the constitution of India which inculcates the values of Indian nationalism.

RSS: The Nazi Party of India
The RSS has been compared to the Nazi party of India. The organization was established in 1925 to safeguard the rights of individuals practicing Hinduism. The leadership of RSS draws inspiration from certain teachings and tactics that resemble those employed by the Nazi regime.⁴ According to Rahul Gandhi, Hinduism is not about killing but Hindutva is. RSS is trying to link Hindutva ideology with Hindu cultural values and foster a sense of unity throughout India, while also advocating the concept of Akhand Bharat (Greater India). The current government, led by BJP, is supporting RSS and is ensuring comprehensive security measures for its leaders. It is crucial to acknowledge that RSS has been implicated in mobilizing groups for acts of violence targeting the Indian Muslims. 

Constitution of India has proven ineffective in safeguarding religious minorities from the adverse impacts of Hindutva ideology.

The RSS, in pursuit of Hindu supremacy, has undertaken various activities, including the organization of 60,929 military drills within their units. Approximately 500,000 individuals have attended these drills. Additionally, the RSS has been conducting 10,000 weekly cell meetings based on social media platforms throughout India. Furthermore, it has been observed that using the Information Technology Cell, RSS engages in propaganda activities against the Muslim community. These activities include instigating individuals against Muslims, targeting media outlets that hold opposing views, as well as minorities and human rights activists. The ultimate objective of these endeavors is to advance the policies of BJP in favor of the Hindu population in India. RSS, under the governance of BJP, is allegedly exerting an influence that some perceive as having a potential impact on the socio-political landscape of India. Concerns have been raised regarding the treatment and safety of religious minority groups within the country. BJP-RSS is learning the techniques of propaganda from Nazi Germany. According to Indian Interior Minister Amit Shah, “Real or fake, we can make any message go viral”. It shows how much is the Indian government relying on propaganda. On the one hand, BJP regime is controlling all electronic and print media while on the other hand, it is using Bollywood industry to defame the Indian Muslims. They are depicting the Muslims as an enemy in movies and web series.
The Nazification of India
Recently, a report titled "The Nazification of India" has generated significant controversy, leading to a passionate discourse on the socio-political environment within the country. The report, authored by the team ‘Justice for All’, an accredited NGO at the United Nations, advocates for persecuted minorities and seeks multilateral responses to mass atrocities in the world. The report has garnered significant interest, necessitating an impartial approach to the subject matter. This entails considering various viewpoints and thoroughly analyzing the provided evidence.⁵

The RSS, under the governance of the BJP, is allegedly exerting an influence that some perceive as having a potential impact on the socio-political landscape of India. 

The historical context refers to the circumstances and conditions that surround a particular event or period in history. It encompasses various political, social, economic, and cultural factors. Moreover, the juxtaposition of India and Nazi Germany, two nations originating from distinct continents and historical periods, may initially appear perplexing. The Nazi regime led by Adolf Hitler gained notoriety due to its espousal of Aryan supremacy, the pursuit of aggressive territorial expansion, and the commission of egregious acts against humanity, notably the Holocaust. To assess the validity of this comparison, it is imperative to analyze the elements referenced in the report thoroughly.
The report unveils RSS adopting the policy of ghettos, same as Nazi Germany. When Nazi Germany took over Poland, Jews were forced by the German authorities to move into specific and designated areas of cities. This provided a means for the Germans to separate Jews from the rest of the population. Families were forced to vacate their homes and leave much of their belongings as they were moved into ghettos. RSS is applying the same strategy against Muslims. They are often denied rental properties in the upscale areas of the cities. In many cases, renters advertise that Muslims should not apply. The same is true in sales of homes or property, where Muslims are denied access on various grounds.
The report suggests that the emergence of Hindu nationalist sentiment in India resembles the proliferation of fascist ideology observed in Nazi Germany. This observation encompasses multiple factors, such as the purported stifling of opposing viewpoints, acts of aggression towards religious minority groups, and using provocative language by specific political figures.
The study also reveals that children are taught against Muslims in 6^th grade. In the RSS private schools, they are fed a stronger diet of Hindutva. Young children are not only picking up ignorance, prejudice and hatred from textbooks and RSS schools, but are being recruited and trained to become militia members.
Targeting Religious Minorities with Acts of Aggression. The report finds out that there were 3,399 cases of communal rioting in the country in the five-year period from 2016 to 2020, but the nature of such attacks has significantly changed since the rise of the BJP-RSS regime. According to Elie Wiesel, a Nobel Prize winner and Holocaust survivor, “Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must–at that moment–become the center of universe.” 

The Nazi regime led by Adolf Hitler gained notoriety due to its espousal of Aryan supremacy, the pursuit of aggressive territorial expansion, and the commission of egregious acts against humanity, notably the Holocaust.

The study also expresses concerns regarding instances of religious minorities being targeted in India, drawing parallels between these incidents and the persecution experienced by minority groups during the Nazi regime.⁶ The report further elaborates that the Nazis destructed the synagogues in Munich, Nuremberg, Dortmund and Kaiserslautern on the orders of local Nazi party officials. Similarly, the BJP-RSS regime is wiping out the Muslim architectural heritage and planning to demolish mosques in India. Militant Hindutva groups often talk about a movement of reclaiming over 3,000 mosques, but specifically mention the Shahi Idgah mosque adjacent to the Hindu Lord Krishna’s temple in Mathura, and the Gyanvapi mosque that is adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.
The study emphasized that BJP regime is devising controversial laws against Muslims to gain support from the extremist Hindus. RSS is seeking guidelines from the Nazi German citizenship law for Jews under the Hitler regime. This law excluded people of non-German blood and most of the Jews living in Germany lost their citizenship rights as a result. Similarly, Muslims in India are facing the same situation of citizenship law from the BJP regime. Majority of Muslims in India do not have proper documents because of living in rural areas. They announced the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), due to which almost 4,86,000 Indian Muslims have lost their citizenship in Assam state. Swami Sarasawti, a religious Hindu leader said, “They [Muslims] thought they can increase their population and capture the country. But Modi ji and Amit Shah have brought this law and smashed their dream. I urge them not to step back but go forward with NRC...” Apart from that, almost 50,000 Muslim-owned butcher shops were closed after a massive campaign by RSS against halal products. The fascist policies of BJP government are proving the Two-nation Theory right as it has become unbearable for the Muslims to live together with Hindus in Nazified India. 

The Suppression of Dissent. The research highlights suppression of dissenting voices in India, similar to the media control and suppression of opposing perspectives witnessed during the Nazi regime. Rana Ayyub, an Indian award-winning journalist, claims that India is a fascist state.  According to the NGO Reporters Without Borders, India ranks at 150 out of 180 and below Somalia in terms of media freedom. 
Use of Inflammatory Language in Discourse. The report points out the utilization of inflammatory language by specific political figures, drawing comparisons with the influential propaganda apparatus employed by the Nazis.⁷ In the context of India, as with any nation, political discourse occasionally exhibits polarising tendencies. 
Way Forward
The available research and survey indicates  that India is moving towards a regime characterized by fascist tendencies, which includes suppression of religious minorities, particularly the Indian Muslims. The BJP and the RSS are disseminating the ideology of Hindutva through various methods. In light of this the international community must address the issue concerning the Indian government and hold India responsible for its implementation of such policies that exhibit characteristics of fascism. Furthermore, it is imperative to protect the religious minorities.
Furthermore, human rights organizations must adopt a definitive position and deploy their representatives to monitor India’s ongoing human rights violations. Moreover, the international community and civil society organizations should actively advocate against the policies implemented by the BJP regime and address the issue of religious minority oppression in India. Human rights organizations must assume the responsibility of monitoring and subsequently advocating for the advancement of interfaith harmony, with the ultimate goal of fostering peaceful coexistence among diverse religious communities. Lastly, the international community should unveil the Indian fascist regime by implementing rigorous research, surveys, and reports on this urgent matter. 
The rise of ultranationalists and religious extremist leaders in India, such as Modi, and their potential influence on the country's political landscape concern the South Asian region. The BJP, guided by the Hindutva ideology, emphasizes Hindu values and asserts that India is primarily a nation for Hindus. Its objective is to promote Hindu cultural influence and foster a sense of Hindu predominance within the country. India is known for its commitment to secularism and democracy. However, adopting Nazi policies does not align with democratic principles. These policies have been observed to provide preferential treatment to the Hindu population, which presents challenges for religious minorities, mainly Indian Muslims.
The BJP government has been utilizing state institutions to suppress the Muslim community and restrict their political representation. The current situation has prompted inquiries regarding the efficacy of the Indian Constitution in safeguarding the rights of religious minority groups. 

The author is a PhD scholar in International Relations at National Defence University, Islamabad.

1.   The Express Tribune. “Global Panel Discusses India’s Transformation into a ‘Fascist State’ under Modi | The Express Tribune,” December 9, 2020. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2275308/global-panel-discusses-indias-transformation-into-a-fascist-state-under-modi.
2.   Singh, Sushant. “The World Ignored Russia’s Delusions. It Shouldn’t Make the Same Mistake With India.” Foreign Policy, May 8, 2022. https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/05/08/india-akhand-bharat-hindu-nationalist-rss-bjp/.
3.   (Pvt) Ltd, www.webspider.pk, Web Spider. “Hindutva Ideology: A Threat to Peace and Economy of South Asia.” Hilal English, n.d. https://www.hilal.gov.pk/eng-article/detail/Mzk2MA==.html.
4.   (Pvt) Ltd, www.webspider.pk, Web Spider. “RSS: The Largest Terrorist Organisation in the World.” Hilal English, n.d. https://www.hilal.gov.pk/eng-article/detail/Mzk1OA==.html.
5.   Admin, JFA. “The Nazification of India - Justice for All.” Justice For All, February 28, 2023. https://www.justiceforall.org/resources/reports/indiannazis/.
6.   Justice for All. “The Nazi Party Is Analogous to India’s RSS - Justice For All,” n.d. https://www.justiceforall.org/indiannazis-report/the-nazi-party-is-analogous-to-indias-rss/.
7.   Ali, Mehmood. “How Bollywood Is Being Used as a Propaganda Tool in India.” Global Village Space, September 2, 2022. https://www.globalvillagespace.com/how-bollywood-is-being-used-as-a-propaganda-tool-in-india/.