Indian hegemony is considered a major threat to peace and stability in South Asia. India's aggressive foreign policy and actions to tip the balance of power in its favor have led to a series of tensions and conflicts in the region. India has repeatedly interfered in the internal affairs of neighboring countries, violating their sovereignty.

For example, in 2015, India's displeasure with Nepal's constitution was revealed, and India imposed an economic embargo on Nepal. This move caused widespread anger among the people of Nepal, who saw it as a manifestation of Indian hegemony. Bhutan is mainly known as a dependent state of India, where Bhutan's foreign policy is influenced by India. Bhutan has not been given the freedom to make its own independent decisions, which is a kind of proof of Indian hegemony.

Besides, countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives have been deprived of independence in their political and economic decisions. These countries have failed to protect their own interests due to India's pressure and interference.

Occupation's Attitude Towards Kashmir

India's aggressive stance on the Kashmir issue has led to long-standing tensions with neighboring Pakistan. In 2019, Article 370 of the Indian Constitution was revoked, and Kashmir's autonomy was withdrawn, sparking discontent among the people of Kashmir and international criticism. Ignoring the rights and demands of the people of Kashmir for autonomy, India imposed control over them, leading to widespread human rights violations. Pakistan and China reacted strongly to this, and it increased regional tensions.

Interference in the Internal Affairs of Neighboring Countries

India's interference in the internal politics of neighboring countries has been ongoing for a long time, which has been detrimental to the internal stability of the countries concerned. Examples of this include India's role in the Sri Lankan civil war and India's pressure during Nepal's general elections. Also, India's direct interference in the Maldivian general elections has become a focal point of discussion in South Asian politics. In the case of Bangladesh, India's efforts to expand its influence are particularly significant. India has often given overt support to the ruling political parties in Bangladesh. India's overt support during the 2014 elections and its subsequent role in Bangladesh's political system have raised questions in the public mind. Allegations of India's interference in the next two elections also created widespread debate among the people of Bangladesh. Many are considering this intervention as a 'new type of colonialism', which is seen as a new threat to the freedom of the people of Bangladesh.

Control Over Water and Natural Resources

India has long dominated the water resources and natural resources of its neighboring countries. In particular, the ongoing dispute between India and Bangladesh over the distribution of the waters of the Ganges and Teesta rivers is having a negative impact on Bangladesh's agriculture and economy. Smaller countries are suffering from water scarcity due to India's unilateral water management policy, which has become a major challenge for them. In 1975, India launched the Farakka Dam, the main objective of which was to control the flow of water in the Ganges. But due to this dam, the flow of water towards Bangladesh is significantly reduced, especially during the dry season. This has resulted in a severe water crisis in the northern part of Bangladesh, which has had severe adverse effects on agriculture, fisheries, and the environment. Although the two countries have been negotiating a water-sharing agreement for a long time, no effective agreement was reached before 1996. The 1996 agreement is also not without criticism, with many arguing that it does not provide adequate protection for Bangladesh. There is a long-running dispute between Bangladesh and India over the sharing of Teesta River water. While Bangladesh has tried to negotiate a deal for Teesta water, India has yet to agree to a full-fledged deal on the issue. The Indian state government of West Bengal has repeatedly opposed the agreement, creating major obstacles to the implementation of an agreement between the central government of India and Bangladesh. Anger against Indian domination in Bangladesh is gradually increasing.

Cultural Hegemony

India is using its large and influential cultural industry to assert its cultural hegemony over neighboring countries. Bollywood and other Indian media are playing a special role in suppressing the cultural identity of neighboring countries and promoting their own culture. This is affecting the local culture, and the younger generation is losing interest in their own cultural identity.

Border Problems and Killings

Behind the killings on the India-Bangladesh border, the idea of Indian supremacy is deeply rooted in the minds of Bangladeshi people. The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has often opened fire on Bangladeshi civilians in the border areas, resulting in casualties. According to information from human rights organizations working on border killings, up to 2023, 245 Bangladeshis were killed by the BSF on the border in the last 9 years, but not a single murder has been prosecuted. Experts believe that this lack of justice is fueling the border killings. According to available data, Bangladesh and India share an international land border of about 4,156 km in length, which is the 25th largest. In September 2022, the Prime Ministers of the two countries made a joint statement to reduce such border killings to zero. Even then, the border killings did not stop. These incidents are not only a question of law and order but are being considered as a reflection of the balance of power and hegemony in India-Bangladesh relations. Such behavior by the BSF against the citizens of Bangladesh is seen by many as a manifestation of Indian hegemony, where India is exerting force for its own interests and influence. This is especially happening in a region where India and Bangladesh have long-standing border issues despite historical and cultural ties.

Exploitation, the Name of Free Trade

Free trade agreements with India have facilitated the access of Indian products to smaller countries' markets, but this has significantly affected their own industrial and agricultural sectors. Small and medium businesses are not able to survive in competition with Indian products, which has a negative impact on their economic development. This competitive imbalance is hampering the economic development of small countries, and their local industries are gradually weakening.

India's huge economy has created a kind of economic dependency for smaller countries, which is posing a major obstacle to their independent economic development. Unequal trade relations with India have increased the economic disparity of smaller countries and made their markets overly dependent on Indian products. For example, the trade balance between Bangladesh and India is against Bangladesh, and Bangladesh's trade deficit with India is increasing. As a result, there is pressure on the economy of Bangladesh, which poses a threat to the country's economic stability in the long run. Bangladeshi businessmen often complain that they face many barriers to entering the Indian market, while Indian products are easily entering the Bangladeshi market. This is an example of a major imbalance in economic relations between the two countries. Such a situation is not only weakening the local industry of Bangladesh but also creating a long-term economic disparity between the two countries, which has emerged as a major challenge to the overall economic stability of South Asia.