| Country: | India |
| Details of Formation: | The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was founded on 7 September 1925 by Keshav Hedgewar. The RSS promotes a philosophy called Hinduteva with the aim of creating a Hindu state. The first pro-government evidence is from February 2002, when the RSS attacked and killed Muslims in Gujurat. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to which the RSS is linked, has been part of the national government and held the office of the prime minister from 1998-2004 and again since 2014. The BJP has been part of the government in several Indian states. For example, in Gujurat, Modi became the Chief Minister in 2001. Prime Minister Modi is closely linked to the RSS as he is a long-term influential member of the group. |
| Details of Termination: | Still active (see other) |
| Purpose: | Based on their ideological proximity, the group was used to mobilise support for the BJP by polarising the electorate, fostering the party’s electoral success. The group’s main aim, based on its ideology of Hindu nationalism, is to defend and spread Hinduism and turn India into a Hindu state. According to one source, it was employed for military operations in Pakistan. |
| Organisation: | From 2000 to 2009 the group was led by K. S. Sudarshan, who was succeeded by M. Bhagwar. |
| Weapons and Training: | The group is reportedly armed with swords, spears, explosives and gas cylinders. There is evidence that the group organises the training of its members on its own, without government involvement. |
| Size: | -- |
| Reason for Membership: | The group’s strong Hindu nationalist ideology suggests that there may have been ideological incentives for joining. |
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group has been accused of violence against civilians, specifically directed at Muslims and Christians, and contributed to the outbreak of riots in which these groups were targets of violence. Muslims were killed by the group in an eruption of anti-Muslim violence in 2002. It is reported that it forcibly converted Muslims and Christians in 2014. According to one source, it was accused of being responsible for explosions in Pakistan. Members also provided emergency relief to the population and were involved in social programs. |
| Other Information: | Officially, the RSS is a non-governmental organisation. Besides the violent attacks linked to the RSS in Gujurat in 2002, there are no more reports of attacks. It remains unclear how many members are actually armed. There were accusations that the RSS ran militant training camps in 2013 and forcefully tried to convert Muslims in 2014. As of 2014, the group conducts basic military drills on a daily basis. |
| References: |
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD. Wikipedia. “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.” https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rashtriya_Swayamsevak_Sangh&oldid=967460499 |