Pro-Government Militias
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) (India)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 221 |
| Country: | India |
| Date formed: | Feb. 28, 2002 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| 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. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | Still active (see other) |
| Termination Type(s): | not terminated |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | yes |
| Former Armed Group? | unclear |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | no | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister; political party; sub-national government |
| If link to party, name of party: | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| Training and Equipment: | no |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | unclear |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): | The current Prime Minister of India (since 2014), Modi, is closely linked to the RSS. |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | religious; children |
| Primary Membership: | religious |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | political |
| Location: | Gujarat |
| Force Strength: | [2500000, 6000000] |
| Target(s): | religious group |
| Purpose(s): | protect state, national or religious institutions; intimidation of ethnic/religious groups |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Purpose: | Other Muslims (India) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | given |
Other Information
| 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. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| 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. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| 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. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | The group’s strong Hindu nationalist ideology suggests that there may have been ideological incentives for joining. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| 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. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | From 2000 to 2009 the group was led by K. S. Sudarshan, who was succeeded by M. Bhagwar. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.