Indian actor warns Hindutva seeks to wipe out Muslims, minorities

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Prominent Indian actor and social activist Prakash Raj has warned that India is witnessing what he described as a “preparation for genocide,” accusing the country’s ruling political forces of pursuing an agenda aimed at eliminating Muslims, tribal communities, and other minorities.

Raj made the remarks during a public event titled “Longing for Justice”, organized by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) in the southern city of Hyderabad. While the speech was delivered late last month, video clips began circulating widely on social media this week, triggering renewed political controversy and sharp reactions from the ruling establishment.

“Please try to understand whatever is happening in this country is a preparation for a genocide,” Raj said. “They want to wipe out Muslims. They want to wipe out tribal people, minorities. That is their agenda.”

Raj directly linked his warning to the ideological foundations of the governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and its parent organization, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Using metaphor, he described the RSS as a “demon under water,” asserting that it holds real power, while portraying the BJP as the visible “lotus” floating above — a reference to the party’s election symbol.

He extended his criticism to India’s democratic institutions, particularly the judiciary, accusing courts of failing to uphold constitutional values. “Shame on you, the courts of India,” Raj said. “You are committing the biggest crime by killing justice,” alleging that institutional silence has enabled majoritarian excesses.

Raj also referenced a mass email he said he received from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Constitution Day, November 26, praising democratic values and the legacy of B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of India’s Constitution. 

Raj questioned the use of his personal data and described the message as misleading, contrasting it with public images of Modi attending a Hindu religious event at Ram temple and hoisting a Hindu religious flag alongside RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. “Does this man really have reverence for our national flag?” Raj asked.

He further alleged that the ruling ideology seeks to replace the Constitution with Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu legal text often cited by critics as incompatible with constitutional equality, warning that such a shift would reduce minorities and dissenting citizens to “secondary citizens.”

To underline what he described as a broader moral collapse, Raj cited the assassinations of journalist Gauri Lankesh and rationalist activist Narendra Dabholkar, pointing to bail granted to accused individuals and public celebrations by supporters as evidence of growing impunity.

Concluding his address, Raj issued a broader warning aimed beyond minority communities. “Today they are coming for the Muslims,” he said. “Tomorrow they will come for you,” urging citizens to continue speaking the truth even when falsehoods are repeated “a hundred times.”

His remarks drew swift backlash from BJP leaders and supporters, who dismissed his statements as baseless, inflammatory, and seditious, and demanded legal action against him. 

Raj, a veteran actor, director, and television presenter who has worked across multiple Indian languages, has long been an outspoken critic of the current government and has previously faced police complaints and legal notices over his political statements.