Sunil Ghanwat is a key figure in the Hindutva ecosystem, closely associated with the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and the Mandir Mahasangh. Over the years, he has been actively involved in campaigns and events that promote anti-Muslim sentiments and push for the establishment of India as a Hindu Rashtra.

On May 19, 2024, at a conference organized by Sanatan Sanstha in Farmagudi, Goa, Ghanwat repeated long-standing conspiracy theories, falsely claiming that funds from halal-certified products were being used to support terrorists. At the same event, other speakers delivered openly communal speeches, urging Hindus to arm themselves in the name of protecting religion.

Ghanwat’s role in organizing and mobilizing communal campaigns extends beyond speeches. Following a July 14 rally at Vishalgad Fort in Kolhapur district, which was followed by attacks on Muslim homes and a mosque, he joined hands with outfits like Sakal Hindu Samaj and Bajrang Dal to announce another aggressive march to Lohagad Fort near Lonavala on August 12.

Justifying the protest under the guise of removing “illegal encroachments,” Ghanwat alleged that Muslims were building structures to grab land and convert it into religious endowments, a term he equated with “land jihad.” He accused the government of inaction and protecting these so-called encroachments, while also admitting that many encroachers were Hindus.

On social media, Ghanwat regularly amplifies Islamophobic content. In 2020, he tweeted that halal certification was a form of dictatorship by a religious minority over the Hindu majority. In another tweet from 2024, he attacked Muslim refugees, alleging that the Indian government was favoring Rohingya and Bangladeshi Muslims over Hindu refugees, framing it as a threat to national security.

His support for economic and social exclusion of Muslims was also visible in February 2025, when a village council in Ahmednagar passed a resolution to bar Muslim traders from participating in the Kanifnath Yatra.

While legal experts and district officials condemned the move as unconstitutional, Ghanwat backed it openly. He justified the ban, claiming that those who do not “believe” in the deity should not be allowed to profit from the religious gathering.