New Delhi (TIP)- RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday began his customary Vijayadashami address with a salutation to the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, calling him ‘Hind ki chadar’. “We have gathered today on Vijayadashami. Today is the centenary of the initiation of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s activities. Coincidentally, this year also marks the 350th anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur Maharaj’s martyrdom. He became a shield and sacrificed himself to protect the Hindu society from the atrocities of invaders from a foreign religion,” Bhagwat said, before going on to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries.
Bhagwat stresses unity, self-reliance and cultural vision
Bhagwat stressed upon unity, self-reliance and cultural vision in his annual Vijayadashami address at Nagpur’s Reshimbagh ground, marking the organisation’s centenary. Calling for India to pursue friendship with all, Bhagwat cautioned that the country “should remain vigilant and continue strengthening security capabilities”. Recalling the Pahalgam terror attack, Bhagwat said the government’s response demonstrated strong leadership, and the armed forces too demonstrated their preparedness in such times. The government responded appropriately, and during this period, “the country witnessed strong leadership, the bravery of our armed forces, and most importantly, the remarkable unity of the people”, he said. The episode, he noted, also tested who India’s true allies on the global stage were.
Speaking on internal security, Bhagwat said the extremist Naxal movement has weakened due to firm government action and growing realisation of its “hollow ideology and cruelty”. However, he cautioned that justice, development and empathy were essential in affected areas to ensure lasting peace.
He also weighed in on the US tariff row, saying, “This forces us to reconsider certain policies. While the world thrives on interdependence, we must make every effort to achieve self-reliance without making dependency a compulsion.” Bhagwat also expressed concern over the political instability in India’s backyard, in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, noting that violent outbursts cannot bring meaningful change. “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 well-being in these countries is a necessity arising out of our natural affinity with these countries, going beyond the consideration for protection of our interests,” he said.
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