TRAJECTORIES OF RSS IDEOLOGICAL DOMINATION IN THE INDIAN POLICY MAKING: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOUTH ASIA

Abstract

It is argued by policymakers and practitioners that instability in South Asia has exacerbated since Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) coming into power in India. Its policymaking is impacted by the influence of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). BJP is known as the political brand-name of RSS. There is a perceptible increase in RSS expansion and dominance of Hindutva ideology in domestic, foreign, and security policies of India. RSS is following the grand policy of greater India with the establishment of Hindu hegemony in India and Hindustan’s (India’s) hegemony in South Asia. Empirical evidence suggests that a well-choreographed use of communal violence and Pakistan bashing have been employed by BJP for the attainment of its objectives. BJP’s revoking of Articles 370 and 35-A to forcibly absorb Indian Occupied Kashmir and enactment of Citizen Amendment Act are the most recent manifestation of RSS long-term design. Following the mixed research method, this paper will be developed around the central argument that the rise of RSS influence on Indian policymaking has impacted its domestic and external policies which bear implications for South Asia. Bibliography Entry Islam, Muhammad Javed, and Zulfqar Khan. 2020. "Trajectories of RSS Ideological Domination in the Indian Policy Making: Implications for South Asia." Margalla Papers 24 (1): 1-15.