Mumbai, Apr 25: Amid the wrath over the horrific terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed lives of 28 civilians, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat emphasized that India needs to show its strength on the world stage.
He also said that the current situation is a battle between "dharma" (righteousness) and "adharma" (wrongdoing).
Speaking at an award ceremony in Mumbai on Thursday, Bhagwat talked about the nation's feelings after the attack. He said that while India is not naturally hostile, it also does not tolerate aggression without responding.
"We are not people who spread hostility and hatred, but we don't accept being hurt either. If we have strength, we must show it. At times like this, we need to show our power. This sends a message to the world that we are strong," Bhagwat said, sending a clear message to both enemies and the global community.
Strongly condemning the terrorist violence in Kashmir, he said said, “This fight is not between communities, it’s between dharma (righteousness) and adharma (wrongdoing). Everyone is condemning what the terrorists did in Kashmir. The victims were targeted because of their religion. The fanatics killed people by asking about their religion; Hindus would never do this.”
Expressing both sadness and anger over the incident, Bhagwat added, “We are deeply saddened by what happened. We are angry, and we should be. To fight against evil, we need a power with eight arms.”
Referring to stories from mythology, Bhagwat said, “Some people will never change. Ravana was a devotee of Lord Shiva, knew the Vedas, and had everything to be a good person, but his mindset and thinking were not ready to change. Ravana wouldn’t have changed until he died and was reborn. That’s why Ram had to kill Ravana to stop him. Evil people need to be removed, and that’s what is expected. This expectation will be fulfilled…”
He also criticized the idea that peace can be achieved without being prepared, saying, “We thought there would be no war and no need for an Army... we saw the results of that in 1962. We must work to become stronger in defense and protection.”
In his message, using symbolism and a call to action, the RSS chief made it clear that strength is not just for protection, but also to prevent threats. "Some people won't change through talks. They need to be taught a lesson. I hope we can achieve this soon," he said.
