Once a fringe Indian ideology, Hindu nationalism is now mainstream, thanks to Modi’s decade in power

By KRUTIKA PATHI and SHEIKH SAALIQ
Associated Press

AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — Hindu nationalism was once a fringe ideology in India, and now it is mainstream. Nobody has done more to advance this cause than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He’s one of India’s most beloved and polarizing political leaders. And no entity has had more influence on his political philosophy and ambitions than a paramilitary, right-wing group founded nearly a century ago and known as RSS. Experts say Modi’s spiritual and political upbringing from the RSS is the driving force in everything he’s done as prime minister over the past 10 years. That period has seen India become a global power and the world’s fifth-largest economy. Modi is campaigning for a third term in the general election starting Friday. He and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party are expected to win.