RSS chief flags security lessons after Pahalgam attack, hails ‘Operation Sindoor’, warns against US tariff policies

NAGPUR: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said the Pahalgam massacre, where 26 Hindu pilgrims were killed by cross-border terrorists (From Pakistan) in April, underscored the need for Bharat to strengthen its security capabilities while maintaining a spirit of friendship with all.



Delivering his annual Vijayadashami address at Reshimbagh, which also marks the centenary of the Nagpur-headquartered organization, he also cautioned that the United States’ tariff policy, driven “solely by its self-interest,” was a reminder for Bharat to safeguard its economic sovereignty through Atma-Nirbhar (Self-reliant) Bharat which has also been repeatedly hammered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his recent speeches.

Reflecting on the April 22 attack, Bhagwat said it left the nation with “a wave of grief, sadness and anger.” He praised the “firmness of the country’s leadership, the valour and war-readiness of our armed forces, and the determination and unity of our society” in responding to the outrage during ‘Operation Sindoor’.

He stressed that while Bharat must nurture global friendships, it must “remain as vigilant as possible and further develop our security capabilities.”

On the economic front, Bhagwat, who was flanked by chief guest, former President Ramnath Kovind, RSS Vidarbha Prant Sanghachalak Deepak Tamshettiwar and Saha Sanghachalak Shridhar Gadge, and Sangh’s city chief Rajesh Loya, pointed to rising global inequalities, environmental degradation, and transactionalism in human relationships as deep flaws of the prevailing economic model.

He warned that Bharat must not allow American tariff measures to dictate its path. “The tariff policy adopted by America, based solely on its self-interest, should not pose a challenge for us,” he said. “By becoming Aatmanirbhar and being cognizant of global unity, we must ensure that this global interdependence does not become a compulsion for us.”

He reiterated the importance of Swadeshi and Swavalamban, stressing that “there is no substitute” for self-reliance in building resilience against global economic shocks. Bhagwat also linked climate change, erratic monsoons, and Himalayan disasters to the dangers of materialist and consumerist development models, calling them “a warning bell for Bharat and South Asia.”

On regional politics, he flagged unrest in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, noting that violent regime changes in neighbouring countries posed concerns for Bharat. He urged democratic solutions to social discontent while warning against global powers exploiting instability in the subcontinent. “Peace, stability and prosperity in these countries is a necessity arising not only out of our natural affinity with them but also close relations with them and once they were part of our family,” he said.

Bhagwat noted that the extremist Naxal movement has been “largely brought under control” due to firm state action and the public’s realization of the hollowness of its ideology but stressed the need for a comprehensive plan to ensure justice, development, and harmony in affected regions.

Earlier, the RSS centenary Vijayadashmi celebrations started on an impressive note earlier with drills and Sangh songs by thousands of swayamsevaks at the venue.

The event started with RSS Sarsanghachlak Mohan Bhagwat and chief guest, former President of India Ramnath Kovind paying tributes to RSS founder Dr Keshav Hedgewar.

Prominent guests, who graced the occasion, included Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita, former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Army; KV Karthik, Managing Director of Deccan Industries, Coimbatore; and Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director of Bajaj Finserv, Pune. Foreign attendees included spiritual leaders and dignitaries from Ghana, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.