NEW DELHI, Jan. 27 -- It has become a common trend for right-wing groups to label anyone who criticises the ruling party or its ideological mentor as "anti-national." Opposition leaders are branded anti-national when they raise questions in Parliament to hold the government accountable. While it is evident that many democratic institutions have been influenced or even captured by Sangh Parivar organisations, those who point out these truths are often vilified as anti-national. An army of social media agents is deployed to attack the critics of the government and of the Sangh Parivar, labelling and shaming them under this pejorative term.

According to Wikipedia, "anti-national" is a pejorative label. It is a political catchphrase widely u...