India’s Right-wing ecosystem on Wednesday celebrated the victory of Donald Trump, seen as a friend of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who shares some of his ideological leanings.

On social media, several BJP supporters, including the BJP’s Andaman and Nicobar unit (BJP4AnN), tweeted a clip of Trump’s victory speech where he praised fellow candidate and anti-vaccine activist Robert Kennedy Jr who withdrew from the race and endorsed Trump.

According to a report by The Guardian, the crowd chanted Kennedy’s nickname “Bobby! Bobby!” However, the BJP4AnN handle posted the video on X with the subtitle: “Crowd chanting Modi Modi during Trump’s speech.”

“Trump acknowledges the importance of Modi,” it added.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad president Alok Kumar welcomed the election results and said: “Some time back Shri Trump had criticised the violence against Hindus and their temples in Bangladesh. He had spoken about the necessity of providing adequate protection to Hindus in their religious matters and their life.”

“The two big democracies together, together with Donald Trump and his friend, our PM Modi can give a direction to the world on human rights, peace and prosperity and achieve sarve bhavantu sukhinah (May all be happy),” he added.

Groups of Hindu priests in the capital performed pujas to thank the gods for Trump’s victory. The BJP allies also joined the chorus.

Ramdas Athawale, Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment, told reporters: “Donald Trump is a Republican and my party’s name is also Republican (Party of India). So, I am extremely happy. This will strengthen the relationship between India and the US.”

Bengal BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said: “Today, Prime Minister Modi and Donald Trump’s friendship signifies the strong bond between India and America, which will only grow further. Democrats opposed our Ayodhya temple and Article 370, and did not condemn violence against Hindus in Bangladesh and Canada. We want India and America’s friendship to strengthen even more.”

The outgoing Democratic Party government did not oppose the Ayodhya temple.

Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut posted a screengrab of an AI video of Trump clad in saffron and white and his supporter and tech magnate Elon Musk dressed like Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

Industrialist Gautam Adani, considered close to the Modi government, posted on X: “If there is one person on Earth who stands as the embodiment of unbreakable tenacity, unshakeable grit, relentless determination and the courage to stay true to his beliefs, it is Donald Trump. Fascinating to see America’s democracy empower its people and uphold the nation’s founding principles.”

AI-generated memes of Trump’s face superimposed on Bollywood actors in dance videos flooded the Internet. Almost every BJP leader who could find a camera gave sound bytes welcoming the verdict.

Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak told reporters: “I congratulate Donald Trump on behalf of the entire Uttar Pradesh for winning the US presidential polls. The people of Uttar Pradesh followed the news of the election with great interest.”

‘Highly unpredictable’

Many former Indian diplomats on Wednesday concurred that India-US ties would “continue to grow” from strength to strength, even as some of them cautioned that Trump is “highly unpredictable” and New Delhi would have to “wait and watch” to see what position he adopts going forward.

The former ambassadors of India PTI spoke to also said the Russia-Ukraine war would be “high on his agenda”.

Venu Rajamony, who served as India’s envoy to the Netherlands from 2017 to 2020, said India must “carefully and consciously” move forward, even as “we do everything possible” to strengthen the relationship.

Reminding that for Trump it is “always ‘America First’”, the former envoy cautioned that Trump would go ahead and do what he thinks is best for the American interest and New Delhi must be “prepared for the ups and downs in the relationship” whether on trade or other issues where India disagrees with the US.

Rajamony also said that Trump had a number of foreign policy issues on his table.

“He is highly unpredictable. So, we will have to wait and watch to see what position he adopts, he has to formulate his foreign policy team and there is still time for him till January to assume office,” the former diplomat said.

Additional reporting by PTI