Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: ‘Indians Cannot Deceive, Deceit Not in Our Character’

Speaking to members of the Indian diaspora in the United States, On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that Indians cannot deceive others because “deceit is not in our character.”  He also emphasized that commitment to America as expatriates should never be questioned.

“I urge Indian professionals here to work with complete honesty,” Singh said. “While you should remain dedicated to India, your dedication to America, where you are currently working, should also be beyond doubt. This is how the perception of Indians will remain positive.”

Singh highlighted that while Indians can be deceived, they themselves cannot deceive others. “Deceit is not part of our character. We can be cheated, but we can never cheat others. This is the message we should convey to the world,” he added.

He further mentioned that India has always promoted the concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ which means considering everyone in the world as one family, regardless of caste or religion.

“We are the nation that introduced the idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ to the world. For us, our family extends beyond those living in India; it includes everyone globally, regardless of caste, religion, or community. ‘The whole world is a family.’ If there is one country that has consistently upheld this belief, it is India. This is a message that only a spiritually inclined nation can truly embody,” Singh said.

Regarding India-US relations, Rajnath Singh expressed that India and the United States are destined to be strong partners, describing the two nations as natural allies. “India and the US are natural allies with a long-standing relationship. Even destiny seems to favor strong India-US ties,” he stated.

He also noted that India and the US are uniquely positioned to bring peace, prosperity, and stability to the world. “When Columbus set out to discover America, he encountered the native Americans, which I believe shows that from the beginning, destiny intended for India-US relations to be strong. Our ties have been steadily strengthening, and together, India and the US can foster global peace, prosperity, and stability,” Singh explained.

Singh also highlighted India’s significant transformation over the past decade, noting a rapid shift in how the country is perceived globally.

During his visit to the US, Rajnath Singh is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with his US counterpart, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and meet with Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor.

Before departing for the US, Rajnath Singh wrote on X: “Leaving for Washington. India and the United States share a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Looking forward to meeting my friend @SecDef Austin. We will discuss areas of strategic interest and aim to strengthen our defense cooperation.”