How Western Far-Right Conspiracy Theories Have Infiltrated the Indian Right Wing
In the past decade, the Indian right wing has undergone a significant ideological shift, increasingly absorbing conspiracy theories and narratives that originated in the far-right ecosystems of the West — particularly the United States. While these theories often begin in fringe spaces like QAnon forums, right-wing YouTube channels, or Telegram groups abroad, they’ve found new life in India, adapted to local cultural and political contexts.
Here are some of the most notable Western conspiracy theories that have taken root in Indian right-wing discourse:
1. Bill Gates — Vaccines and Population Control
The conspiracy theory that Bill Gates is using vaccines to control or reduce the global population has been a staple of American far-right rhetoric. In India, this theory has found fertile ground, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gates’ philanthropic efforts in India — whether in polio eradication, Aadhaar infrastructure, or agriculture — have been recast by Indian conspiracy theorists as covert attempts to experiment on or surveil the Indian population. Right-wing WhatsApp forwards and influencers paint him as a symbol of Western tech overreach and neocolonial control.
2. George Soros — The Global Puppet Master
In the global far-right imagination, George Soros is the ultimate bogeyman — a billionaire orchestrating liberal revolutions from behind the scenes. This narrative has been enthusiastically adopted by Indian right-wing circles.
When Soros publicly criticized the Modi government and expressed support for “open societies,” Indian right-wing influencers and politicians went into overdrive, accusing him of funding anti-national media, anti-CAA protests, and civil society groups aimed at destabilizing India. Soros has since become shorthand in India for “foreign-funded interference.”
3. Mother Teresa — A Saint or a Conversion Agent?
Mother Teresa is revered around the world for her humanitarian work, but in sections of the Indian right wing, she is viewed with deep suspicion. A recurring theory is that her missionary work was actually a front for mass conversions to Christianity and, in more extreme versions, child trafficking.
These claims, though widely debunked, have been repeated by politicians like Yogi Adityanath and amplified on social media. This mirrors older colonial anxieties and aligns with global right-wing skepticism of religious charities and NGOs.
4. Deep State and the “Tukde Tukde Gang”
While the American far right talks about a “deep state” sabotaging Donald Trump, the Indian right has its own version: the “Tukde Tukde Gang.”
This label is used to describe an imagined anti-national coalition of leftists, secular intellectuals, human rights activists, and journalists. From JNU to Bollywood, this supposed cabal is accused of conspiring against India’s unity and sovereignty — similar to how American right-wingers talk about universities, Hollywood, and the media.
5. Climate NGOs and the Anti-Development Agenda
Some segments of the Indian right have begun embracing Western-style climate change skepticism. Global environmental NGOs are accused of trying to halt India’s development by weaponizing environmental concerns.
The narrative goes that these organizations, often funded by foreign donors, are stalling infrastructure projects, mining, and industrial growth in tribal and rural areas — not to protect nature, but to keep India poor and dependent.
This aligns closely with conspiracy theories pushed by Western oil-funded think tanks that label climate activism as a covert anti-growth agenda.
Final Thoughts
These conspiracy theories are not just fringe ideas anymore — they are shaping policy debates, media narratives, and public perception. As global digital ecosystems converge, it’s becoming harder to draw clear lines between what’s “imported” and what’s “homegrown.” But understanding where these ideas come from — and how they morph in the Indian context — is crucial to confronting them.
If India’s right-wing discourse is being shaped by American paranoia, it’s worth asking: Whose vision of nationalism are we really following?
