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India’s decision not to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has been widely covered this year. The concerns raised about the deal from various sections of the Indian economy – such as large steel producers, milk product providers, or agriculturalists – have also been sufficiently noted. What attracted little attention, however, is that the wide array of groups opposing RCEP included those belonging to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS): the Hindu nationalist organization closely tied to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Thus, while seriously considering joining RCEP for years, Narendra Modi’s government faced resistance to the idea from within its own ideological circle.