Mohan Bhagwat Calls National Security A Civilisational Duty, Says 'We Have No Option But...'

News18

25-05-2025

Last Updated:
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat stressed India's need for strength, linking national security to unity, family values, and ecology. He urged Hindu society to stand strong globally.
In a pointed assessment of India's national security posture, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that India has 'no option but to be powerful", framing strength not as a matter of policy but as a civilisational imperative. His remarks, delivered in the run-up to the Sangh's centenary, come just weeks after Operation Sindoor.
'We are not doing this to dominate world trade, but to ensure that everyone should be able to lead a peaceful, healthy and empowered life. We have no option but to be powerful as we have been witnessing the wickedness of the evil forces on all our borders," Bhagwat said explaining the need to have enough strength to secure the nation.
In an exclusive interview with Organiser, the RSS-linked publication, Bhagwat made it clear – security begins with society, not just the state," he said.
Bhagwat's tone was devoid of rhetorical flourish – it was deliberate, clinical. The RSS chief appeared to be issuing a wake-up call not only to the politicians, and policymakers but to Hindu society at large. 'You must defend yourselves. Don't wait for someone else to do it for you," he said adding, 'People say Hindus are targeted abroad. But when Hindus stand strong, the world takes note,"
The message resonates strongly with the military doctrine behind Operation Sindoor, which emphasized jointness, readiness, and forward mobility. Bhagwat's social counterpart to this doctrine is what he calls 'Swa' – rootedness in civilisational identity as the foundation of strategic clarity. Even though Bhagwat was not asked any direct questions about Operation Sindoor, his comments on the national security front are indeed significant.
But the most striking remark was about deterrence. 'Grant us such a strength that globally we are invincible. True strength is internal. For national security, we must not be dependent on others. We should be able to defend ourselves. No one should be able to conquer us – not even if multiple powers come together. There are evil forces in the world who are aggressive by nature. We don't pray for war, but we prepare so that war is not needed," he said
Explaining that security, in the Sangh's vision, is not limited to borderlines or barracks. It's psychological, civilisational – and pre-emptive. Bhagwat also referred to Hindu minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh as 'choosing to resist rather than flee."
'This time the way anguish against the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh has been expressed, this is unprecedented. Even local Hindus now say – We won't flee. We'll stay and fight for our rights. Now, the internal strength of the Hindu society is increasing. As the organisation grows, its impact will translate naturally. Until then, we must keep fighting. Wherever Hindus are there in the world, we will do everything possible for them following the international norms, Sangh exists for the same," he further added.