India has three types of political groups that fundamentally oppose democracy:
1. Communist Parties
- Their stated goal is to abolish multi-party democracy and establish a one-party communist dictatorship if they gain power.
2. Islamist Parties & Movements
- They aim to replace democracy with Islamic Sharia law, following a global Islamist agenda seeking religious rule.
3. Hindu Nationalist Parties & Movements
- They push for India to become a Hindu nation, largely as a defensive reaction against Islamist expansion.
Current Political Reality
Communist influence in India has declined, reducing their threat to democracy. The main conflict now is between Islamist and Hindu nationalist forces.
At first glance, both seem equally anti-democratic. But the key difference is:
- Islamist groups are part of a worldwide movement to impose Islamic rule.
- Hindu nationalism is mostly a defensive response, not an aggressive global agenda.
Islamist Expansion vs. Hindu Resistance
- Islamist movements (like political Islam) work to spread Sharia law everywhere, including India. Their success would end democracy.
- Hindu nationalist parties focus only on protecting India’s culture. They don’t try to force Hindu rule on other countries.
This makes Hindu nationalism more of a reaction than an independent threat.
The Democracy Solution
Some argue that Hindu rule is no better than Islamist rule—and they’re right. India’s best path is strong secular democracy. But we must recognize:
- Islamist groups are actively trying to destroy democracy worldwide.
- Hindu nationalism grows mainly as a counter to Islamism, not as a standalone ideology.
The real problem is global Islamist extremism, which fuels defensive extremism in response.
A Dangerous Double Standard
Allowing Islamist parties to operate freely is like raising a snake that will one day kill you. If India tolerates groups openly working against democracy, it risks losing democracy entirely.
What Should Be Done?
1. Expose and counter Islamist movements that threaten democracy.
2. Strengthen fair, inclusive democratic systems to prevent both religious and nationalist extremism.
3. Stop pretending both sides are equal—Islamist expansion is the root cause; Hindu nationalism is a symptom.
India must defend democracy by confronting those who seek to destroy it, or risk losing everything.
6 comments:
Dr John Kunnath's article 'The Three Anti democratic Forces in Indian Politics' shares a legitimate concern which all supporters of democracy have started to feel and realise. The article is well structured and tries to identify the perceived threats, but l am afraid whether the conclusions are logically arrived at. I say like this, because I can't completely agree with the three ideological forces (Communist, Islamist, and Hindu nationalist) the writer has mentioned, as the forces that is going to wreck our democracy. Firstly there is only one political ideology-the Communists - that he mentions as one of the destroyers, the other two are extremist religious outfits. Communist parties have been participating in all the democratic processes since independence, then it is not clear how communist parties are a threat to democracy. The other two forces really pose a threat to democracy, but the writer seems to be a bit soft on the damage caused by the Hindu outfits. The danger posed by the two religious outfits is really a matter of concern but the solution the writer gives seems to engage only the Islamist movement downplaying the threat offered by the majoritarianist nationalism.
l agree with your conclusion that secular and inclusive politics, in short democracy, is the only panecia by which we can live in harmony. But I can' t and I won't align anti-democracy / terrorism/fundamentalism with any one religion. Every religion has its own dose of all these . lf you look at history, an organised section in every religion holds the vast minority of innocent people at ransom and dictate terms to them. I know a lot of people who are the best and the worst in all religions & also among Congress &Communists. In India the hindu right is more dangerous as they hold power. In Iran & many Islamic countries, the Muslim right wing plays this role.The emerging Christian right wing in many western countries, including US, is equally culpable on this count. John ,perhaps, we will agree to disagree.
Dear sir, Thank you very much for finding time to comment.
Communist parties in India participate in elections but their goal is clear: a one-party dictatorship. Their ideology comes from Marx, Lenin and Mao, and rejects multi-party democracy as a "bourgeois illusion."
Historical examples show wherever communism took power - Soviet Union, China, Cambodia - it destroyed democracy, banned opposition, and created totalitarian rule. Even in India, communist-ruled states like West Bengal and Kerala saw violent suppression of dissent and erosion of democracy.
Communist parties use democratic freedoms to gain power, then destroy those freedoms. This is their stated goal. Why are they allowed to operate under a Constitution they want to overthrow?
Regarding Islamism and Hindutwa, I have clearly explained that Islamist expansion is the root cause, and Hindu nationalism is primarily a reaction to it.
I fully agree with you 100%. Even Christianity was like that in medieval Europe.
But in my short article, I am specifically talking about the present condition of India where these three are the anti-democratic forces.
Dear John sir,
Your article on three antidemocratic Forces in Indian Politics, is an eye opening one to me and I believe it can be so to many people who are not bothered of such situations or even think over it.
In India, democracy is getting well eroded and progressively destroyed by religions involving into politics. Communism is basically not democratic. Anyhow, communism is declining in India as part of universal dethronement.
On considering Islam the threat is global. It has been intolerant and aggressive promoting terrorism and fanaticism.
Hinduism on the other hand was tolerant since long. Anyhow, recently some Hindus become intolerant to other religions, possibly to prevent their expansion, that can lead to destruction of Hindu culture and religion. It is a self defence movement. Christianity even though the most dominant religious group, globally and based on universal love and mercy, fail to become acceptable, possibly its system is falling away from the basic principles of the gospels, and give priorities to rituals and prolonged prayers etc. So the other religious groups consider it as nothing better
Dr Mathew Thomas
Dear John sir, I read your note on the three Anti- Democratic forces in Indian politics and the comment thereon with much interest. I don't see Communist party or Islamist forces a threat to India democracy. Hinduism is a great religion but Hindu Nationalism is causing alarm to Indian polity which aims to establish a majoritarian Hindu religious state. It subdue multicultural diversity. Peaceful Co- existence of various cultures is strength of Indian social fabric. Atrocities against Christian minority are rampant. Hindu Nationalist proponents criticize that Christians are luring the poor and marginalized by providing undue favour to them. Love Jihad is alleged against Muslims. All these are bogus allegations. Need of the hour is encouraging coalition politics and dialogues across party line. NGOs, citizens groups interfaith forums should be supported to promote dialogue between communities.
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