Why Have Major Protests in India Been Led by Either the RSS or Religious Extremists?

I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and the pattern is kind of depressing. Every major protest in India in the last 15–20 years—whether against government policies, social issues, or constitutional violations—has been driven either by right-wing groups (RSS, BJP allies) or by religious extremists and separatists. Liberals, leftists, centrists, or just ordinary pissed-off citizens? Mostly bystanders.

Let’s look at some of the biggest protests:

  1. Anna Hazare’s Anti-Corruption Movement (2011-12) – Started as a clean movement, but RSS and BJP-backed groups played a massive role in mobilization. It conveniently helped BJP’s 2014 rise.
  2. Nirbhaya Protest (2012) – Public outrage was real, but it only gained momentum because right-wing groups picked it up.
  3. Anti-CAA-NRC Protests (2019-20) – A movement against an unconstitutional law, but heavily driven by Islamist groups and separatists. Secular and liberal voices participated but did not drive the movement.
  4. Farmers' Protests (2020-21) – Real economic grievances, but taken over by Khalistani elements, making it another "religion-coded" protest.
  5. West Bengal Doctor Rape Protest – Again, a justified outrage, but it was mostly RSS-backed, making it seem politically motivated.

So here’s the thing—where the hell are the non-religious, non-ideological protests?

Because when something doesn’t involve religion, nothing happens. No one takes to the streets. No one cares.

  • Manipur Violence (2023) – Women were literally stripped naked and paraded. Where was the mass outrage?
  • Hathras Case (2020) – A Dalit woman was brutalized, the administration covered it up by burning her body with patrol, and... nothing.
  • Demonetization (2016) – Millions suffered, businesses collapsed, and people died in bank lines, but all we got was some memes.
  • Paper Leaks & Exam Scams – Lakhs of students get screwed over year after year, but no one hits the streets.
  • Prajwal Revanna Scandal (2024) – A sitting MP accused of serial sexual abuse, and it barely made a dent in public consciousness.