KATHMANDU, Concerns are arising over India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allegedly attempting to extend its Hindutva ideology to Nepal, a neighbouring secular nation. Observers link the rise of the Nepal Janata Party, a Hindu nationalist party, to the expanding influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the idea of Akhand Bharat within Nepali politics.

According to a news release by Kashmir Media Service, historical ties between the RSS and Nepal’s monarchists, dating back to the 1960s, provide context. The establishment of Nepal as a secular state following the abolition of the Hindu monarchy raised concerns among the leadership of both the RSS and BJP. Although at the time, given their limited influence in India and Nepal’s political shifts, they couldn’t vehemently challenge the move. But with the BJP’s current prominence in India and rising discontents in Nepal, Hindu nationalists are reportedly becoming more assertive in their outreach.

The U.S. State Department recently released a report detailing the BJP and its affiliated groups’ alleged attempts to influence and financially back Nepali political entities, aiming to reverse Nepal’s secular status. Leveraging its extensive experience in institutional development, the RSS is also said to be creating Nepali branches and recruiting volunteers to further its objectives.

Moreover, Nepal has witnessed a string of incidents in recent months, purportedly instigated by the RSS and BJP, suggesting a coordinated effort to amplify the role of religion in the nation’s officially secular governance. Curfews were enforced following sectarian disturbances involving Hindu activists in the cities of Dharan, Malangawa, and Nepalgunj during August, September, and October.