RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat speaks on Pahalgam attack, tariff war, Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Dashami speech: Excerpts

Maha Kumbh Mela

The Maha Kumbh mela, held in Prayagraj earlier this year, set a new world record by breaking all past records of the number of pilgrims from across Bharat and surpassing all benchmarks of excellent management. It roused a wave of faith and unity across Bharat.

Pahalgam terror attack

On April 22, in Pahalgam, cross-border terrorists killed 26 Bharatiya civilian tourists after asking them about their Hindu faith. The attack led to a wave of grief, sadness and anger across Bharat. After careful planning, the government of Bharat gave a fitting response to this attack in the month of May.

During this entire period, we witnessed heartening scenes of the firmness of the country’s leadership, the valour and war-readiness of our armed forces, as well as the determination and unity of our society.

However, at the same time, it has become evident to us that, while maintaining a policy and spirit of friendship with everyone, we must remain as vigilant as possible and further develop our security capabilities.

Naxalite movement

The extremist Naxalist movement has been largely brought under control due to the firm actions of the government and the realisation among people about the hollowness of their ideology and cruelty.

The root of Naxalites’ popularity in these areas lay in exploitation and injustice, lack of development, and absence of sensitivity about these matters in the administration. Now that these obstacles have been removed, a comprehensive action plan is required to ensure justice, development, goodwill, empathy, and harmony in these regions.

Tariff war and Aatmanirbhar Bharat

We will need to reconsider our approach on some issues to ensure that these flaws and the tariff policy adopted by America, based solely on its self-interest, do not pose a challenge for us.

The world operates through mutual interdependence. By becoming Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) and being cognizant of global unity, we must ensure that this global interdependence does not become a compulsion for us, and we are able to act according to our own will. There is no substitute for Swadeshi and Swavalamban.

Turmoil in neighbouring countries

In recent years, there has been considerable turmoil in our neighbouring countries. The regime change in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and more recently Nepal due to violent outburst of public anger is a concern for us.

The forces wanting to create such disturbances in Bharat are active inside as well as outside our country. The natural and immediate causes for discontent are the disconnect between the government and the society and the lack of able and people-oriented administrators. However, violent outbursts do not have the power to bring about the desirable change.

The society can achieve such transformation only through democratic means. Otherwise, in such violent circumstances, there is a possibility that the dominant powers of the world will try to find opportunities to play their own games. These neighbouring countries are linked with Bharat on the basis of both culture and long-standing ties between citizens.

In one way, they are part of our own family. Peace, stability, prosperity, and ensuring comfort and wellbeing in these countries is a necessity arising out of our natural affinity with these countries, going beyond the consideration for protection of our interests.

Unity in diversity

The most important factor in any nation’s progress is its social unity. Our country has immense diversity. Many languages, multiple religions, diverse lifestyles and a variety of cuisines due to geographic diversity, caste and sub-caste - all these diversities have existed since inception.

Over the past thousand years, some foreign communities have also entered Bharat from outside our borders. While foreigners have left, our own brothers who accepted these religions and continue to follow them are still present in Bharat. According to Bharatiya traditions, all are welcome and accepted. We look at them as ours rather than as the ‘other’.

We regard these diversities as specialties and understand the tendency to take pride in them. However, these distinct identities should not cause division. Despite all our distinct identities, we are all parts of a larger society. As a society, a country, a culture, and a nation, we are united.

We must remember that this larger identity is above everything else for us. Because of this, our attitudes towards each other in society are required to be harmonious and respectful. Everyone has their own beliefs, icons and places of worship. We should be careful not to disrespect these in thought, word, or action.