Rishikesh: In an ashram near the Ganga river in the Himalayan foothills, priest-turned-politician Sakshi Maharaj mimes rowing a boat to illustrate what will happen if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government ignores Hindu nationalist demands.

“Mr Modi will have to be a boatman, one oar must focus on the economy and the other must concentrate on the Hindu agenda,” says Maharaj, clad in saffron robes and sitting cross-legged on a bed.

He twirls his bejewelled fingers in the air, explaining that otherwise the boat will spin in circles. In recent months, Maharaj has created uproar by describing Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin as a patriot, saying Hindu women should give birth to four children to ensure the religion survives and by calling for Hindus who convert to Islam and Christianity to be given the death penalty.

With a self-proclaimed following of 10 million people, Maharaj, a four-time MP, draws support through a network of dozens of ashrams and colleges. “I am aware that I am a powerful man,” he says, adding, “I can make or break the government.”

Maharaj says most Indians, including Mr Modi, privately share his views.

“The only difference is he is refined and maybe we are crass,” Maharaj says of Modi. “We may have to fine-tune the message but the message will remain the same,” he added.