Changes

The '''Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh''' (abbreviated as '''RSS''') is a radical militant and [[Hindu]] supremacist organisation active in India, which persecutes Christians.<ref name=RSS>https://www.npr.org/2019/05/03/706808616/the-powerful-group-shaping-the-rise-of-hindu-nationalism-in-india</ref><ref>https://www.newyorker.com/news/on-religion/the-violent-toll-of-hindu-nationalism-in-india</ref><ref name=Straight/> India's founding father [[Mohandas K. Gandhi]] was assassinated in 1948 by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist who was a member of this group.<ref name=RSS/> India's ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is an [[ideological]] ally and political arm of the RSS.<ref name=Zenit/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rss-targets-100-turnout-to-ensure-bjp/story-SJm57lpBcduWgp1phlny8M.html|title=RSS targets 100% turnout to ensure BJP win|work=Hindustan Times|date=10 March 2019}}</ref> The RSS is also a source of inspiration for other fundamentalist Hindu organizations,<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/04/14/hindu-radical-calls-for-forced-sterilizations-of-christians-and-muslims-in-india/</ref> It reportedly operates chapters in 39 countries.<ref>https://zeenews.india.com/news/india/from-us-to-uk-how-rss-gone-global-with-overseas-wing-hindu-swayamsevak-sangh-in-39-countries_1836942.html</ref>

The '''Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh''' (abbreviated as '''RSS''') is a radical militant and [[Hindu]] supremacist organisation active in India, which persecutes Christians.<ref name=RSS>https://www.npr.org/2019/05/03/706808616/the-powerful-group-shaping-the-rise-of-hindu-nationalism-in-india</ref><ref>https://www.newyorker.com/news/on-religion/the-violent-toll-of-hindu-nationalism-in-india</ref><ref name=Straight/> India's founding father [[Mohandas K. Gandhi]] was assassinated in 1948 by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist who was a member of this group.<ref name=RSS/> India's ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is an [[ideological]] ally and political arm of the RSS.<ref name=Zenit/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rss-targets-100-turnout-to-ensure-bjp/story-SJm57lpBcduWgp1phlny8M.html|title=RSS targets 100% turnout to ensure BJP win|work=Hindustan Times|date=10 March 2019}}</ref> The RSS is also a source of inspiration for other fundamentalist Hindu organizations.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/04/14/hindu-radical-calls-for-forced-sterilizations-of-christians-and-muslims-in-india/</ref> It reportedly operates units in 39 countries through the Hindu diaspora.<ref>https://zeenews.india.com/news/india/from-us-to-uk-how-rss-gone-global-with-overseas-wing-hindu-swayamsevak-sangh-in-39-countries_1836942.html</ref>

The RSS is known for its violent persecution of India's [[Christian]] minority, and has led and participated in attacks against them.<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/16/narendra-modis-hindu-nationalism-gives-rise-vigilante-attacks/</ref> It has also burned down Churches and desecrated the [[Bible]] on multiple occasions.<ref>https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1218323/christian-persecution-india-hindu-nationalism-extremists-narendra-modi</ref><ref>https://www.ozy.com/the-new-and-the-next/is-the-hindu-right-targeting-churches-again/268729/</ref> The RSS has engaged, with the complicity of Indian authorities, in the illegal conversion of Christians to Hinduism while violating state laws.<ref>https://www.persecution.org/2006/04/13/rss-reconverts-over-300-christians-in-orissa/</ref> The Indian prime minister [[Narendra Modi]] is a longtime member and career propagandist of the RSS.<ref name=RSS/><ref name=NH>https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/nazi-germany-and-rss-india</ref> According to Christian organization [[Open Doors]], persecution against Christians has increased under the Modi government, and Hindu radicals who attack Christians face little to no consequences.<ref name=Fox/> Attacks against Indian Christians during the BJP's rule increased by over 400 percent.<ref name=Zenit>https://zenit.org/articles/christians-in-india-fear-rise-in-attacks-after-hindu-nationalist-bjp-election-win/</ref> India was ranked as the 15th worst nation for Christians in 2017 by Open Doors USA, due to the actions of Hindu fanatics. By 2020, Indian Christians experienced the 10th worst persecution anywhere. <ref name=Straight/><ref>https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/</ref> In January 2020, RSS extremists blocked and protested against the construction of a large [[Jesus]] statue in Karnataka.<ref name=Fox>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/india-jesus-statue-hindu-protest|title=Hindu hardliners protest massive Jesus statue in India as persecution against Christians persists|work=Fox News|date=15 January 2020}}</ref>

The RSS is known for its violent persecution of India's [[Christian]] minority, and has led and participated in attacks against them.<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/16/narendra-modis-hindu-nationalism-gives-rise-vigilante-attacks/</ref> It has also burned down and destroyed churches and desecrated the [[Bible]] on multiple occasions.<ref>https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1218323/christian-persecution-india-hindu-nationalism-extremists-narendra-modi</ref><ref>https://www.ozy.com/the-new-and-the-next/is-the-hindu-right-targeting-churches-again/268729/</ref> Members of this organization engage in mob attacks when targeting Christians.<ref name=BB>https://www.breitbart.com/asia/2019/04/02/mob-hindu-radicals-strip-beat-nuns-destroy-catholic-school-india/</ref> In April 2019, a mob of 200 Hindu radicals destroyed a Catholic school and stripped the nuns who were teaching there.<ref name=BB/> The RSS has engaged, with the complicity of Indian authorities, in the illegal conversion of Christians to Hinduism while violating state laws.<ref>https://www.persecution.org/2006/04/13/rss-reconverts-over-300-christians-in-orissa/</ref> The Indian prime minister [[Narendra Modi]] is a longtime member and career propagandist of the RSS.<ref name=RSS/><ref name=NH>https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/nazi-germany-and-rss-india</ref> According to Christian organization [[Open Doors]], persecution against Christians has increased under the Modi government, and Hindu radicals who attack Christians face little to no consequences.<ref name=Fox/> Attacks against Indian Christians during the BJP's rule increased by over 400 percent.<ref name=Zenit>https://zenit.org/articles/christians-in-india-fear-rise-in-attacks-after-hindu-nationalist-bjp-election-win/</ref> [[Breitbart]] reported that there have been a record number of violent attacks perpetrated against Christians by Hindus, and this is due to the "Hindu nationalist agenda" of the BJP regime.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/asia/2020/02/17/report-india-suffers-record-number-of-violent-attacks-against-christians/</ref> India was ranked as the 15th worst nation for Christians in 2017 by Open Doors USA, due to the actions of Hindu fanatics. By 2020, Indian Christians experienced the 10th worst persecution anywhere. <ref name=Straight/><ref>https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/</ref> In January 2020, RSS extremists blocked and protested against the construction of a large [[Jesus]] statue in Karnataka.<ref name=Fox>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/india-jesus-statue-hindu-protest|title=Hindu hardliners protest massive Jesus statue in India as persecution against Christians persists|work=Fox News|date=15 January 2020}}</ref></ref><ref>https://www.breitbart.com/asia/2020/01/14/hindu-radicals-protest-plan-monumental-jesus-statue-india/</ref>

M S Golwalkar, who headed the RSS from 1940 to 1973, identified Christians as part of India's "internal enemies" and greatly admired the [[Nazi Party]].<ref name=NH/> Members of the RSS still glorify the Nazis and [[Adolf Hitler]]'s concept of racial purity.<ref>https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/hitlers-hindus-indias-nazi-loving-nationalists-on-the-rise-1.5628532</ref><ref>https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-india-envoy-visits-nazi-inspired-hindu-group/a-49682304</ref> The RSS believes that India is a homeland only for the Hindus and regards minority groups such as Christians as outsiders.<ref name=Straight>https://www.straight.com/news/1011301/gurpreet-singh-christians-under-constant-attack-modis-india</ref>

M S Golwalkar, who headed the RSS from 1940 to 1973, identified Christians as part of India's "internal enemies" and greatly admired the [[Nazi Party]].<ref name=NH/> Members of the RSS still glorify the Nazis and [[Adolf Hitler]]'s concept of racial purity.<ref>https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/hitlers-hindus-indias-nazi-loving-nationalists-on-the-rise-1.5628532</ref><ref>https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-india-envoy-visits-nazi-inspired-hindu-group/a-49682304</ref> The RSS believes that India is a homeland only for the Hindus and regards minority groups such as Christians as outsiders.<ref name=Straight>https://www.straight.com/news/1011301/gurpreet-singh-christians-under-constant-attack-modis-india</ref>