Both Lee and Seymour’s interviews were with ANI, an Indian news agency that has been accused of being a propaganda tool for the Hindu nationalist Indian government. In 1992, following a years-long push from rightwing Hindu group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Hindu paramilitary organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a riot of Hindu protesters demolished the mosque, sparking riots throughout India. Former prime minister Chris Hipkins meets Narendra Modi (Photo: Pool)Why are there so many rightwing Hindu networks outside of India? The RSS has many branches outside of India, including in Kenya, the US, the UK and as a registered charity to promote Hindu culture in New Zealand. “There’s a lot of support from the diaspora to uphold the values of India as a Hindu nation,” he says.
