Rising above China only way, says RSS chief; Rahul Gandhi retorts

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday called for India to “rise above” China in terms of “power and scope”, at the organisation’s key Vijayadashami celebrations. “We intend to be friendly with all. This is our nature,” he said, adding, “Mistaking our benevolence for weakness and attempts to disintegrate or weaken us by sheer brute force is unacceptable… If push comes to shove, we will not fall short of alertness, firmness and readiness.”

The RSS chief’s remarks instantly received response from the Opposition. “Deep inside, Mr Bhagwat knows the truth. He is just scared to face it. The truth is China has taken our land and GOI & RSS have allowed it,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, slamming the RSS which is the ideological mentor of the BJP.

“China’s role in the breakout of this pandemic may be disputable but its misuse of their riches by unleashing terror on the borders of Bharat and boisterous efforts to invade our territories are well-known to the whole world,” Bhagwat said, adding: “Even in the past, the world has time and again witnessed China’s expansionist attitude. Rising above China economically, strategically, in securing cooperative ties with our neighbours and at international relations is the only way to neutralise those demonic aspirations.”

Bhagwat also called the Dragon “expansionist”, while urging the government to forge an alliance against China with its immediate neighbours like Nepal, Sri Lanka and others. “Indian defence forces, government and the people remained unfazed and responded sharply to China’s boisterous efforts to invade our territories,” he said. However, Bhagwat warned that India needed to be cautious as it gave a befitting reply to China.

Referring to the ongoing LAC standoff between the two countries that also saw violent flare-up earlier in the Galwan Valley, the RSS chief said, “It (China) didn’t expect this (response). So we don’t know how it will react. So what is the way forward? It is alertness and preparedness. We need to be more powerful than China in military preparedness, economic conditions, international relations and relation with neighboring nations,” added Bhagwat.

The LAC standoff in eastern Ladakh took place early this year. On 15 June 2020 Indian soldiers were killed in the line of duty in Galwan Valley — a first in more than four decades. Talks to restore the status quo ante at the LAC have remained inconclusive so far.

WITH AGENCY INPUTS