India: RSS to have Christian organization within its structure?

India | 13 February 2016

Since early January 2016 the media have been paying a good deal of attention to a plan by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to open a branch for Christians known as the Rashtriya Isai Manch (National Christian Forum). The RSS is a radical Hindu nationalist movement that has been responsible for many attacks on Christians over the past years. The governing Bharatiya Janata Party, which came to power in 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to form the federal government, is the RSS' political wing. Christians have reacted in various ways to this move. Some have fiercely rejected any form of cooperation with the RSS, as made clear in an article dated 6 January 2016 in the Christian Persecution Update. Some claim these rumors are false (Asia News, 11 January 2016). But it seems that others, like well-known Catholic activist John Dayal, take it seriously. On 27 January 2016 Union of Catholic Asian News reported that some 150 Christian leaders from various denominations are to meet in New Delhi on 13 February to deliberate on the RSS initiative. Rolf Zeegers, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, believes that the move by the RSS may well be genuine.‚ He points out: "Why would people like John Dayal organize a special meeting on this if this were not the case? One thing is clear, however: If they want to succeed in their plans, the RSS has to put an end to its numerous attacks all over India against the Christians they now want to cooperate with. It remains to be seen if all local RSS activists will agree with this."