Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday stated that the current struggle facing the nation is not a conflict between religions or sects, but a deeper battle between Dharma (righteousness) and Adharma (unrighteousness). Speaking at an event in Mumbai in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Bhagwat made a powerful call for unity and strength.
In his address, Bhagwat said, “The fight that is going on right now is not between sects and religions. Its basis is sect and religion, but this fight is between ‘Dharma’ and ‘Adharma’. Our soldiers or our people have never killed anyone by asking about their religion. The fanatics who killed people by asking about their religion, Hindus would never do this. That is why the country should be strong.”
He emphasized that history and mythology offer guidance in dealing with such challenges. “Everyone is sad, there is anger in our hearts as it should be, because to destroy the demons, immense power is necessary. But some people are not ready to understand this, and there cannot be any kind of change in them now. Ravana was a devotee of Lord Shiva, knew the Vedas, had everything that was needed to be a good person, but the mind and intellect he had adopted were not ready to change. Ravana would not have changed until he died and was reborn. That is why Ram killed Ravana to change him.”
Bhagwat underlined that like Lord Ram vanquished Ravana, evil elements in society too must be dealt with decisively. “We are a people who see the good in everyone and accept all. Our country has an army, but there was a time we felt we didn’t need one. We became complacent, thinking there would be no war, and in 1962, nature taught us a lesson. Since then, we have been striving to strengthen our defence. Evil must be eliminated. There is anger, and there is also expectation. I believe that expectation will be fulfilled. But such change doesn’t come merely from weapons or anger. The true force behind it is closeness. It is intimacy that keeps society united. In Kaliyug, staying united is our greatest strength.”
He praised the unity shown by people across all sections of society following the Pahalgam terror attack. “The wave of anger that swept the nation after the recent incident did not differentiate by caste, religion, creed, sect, region, or party. We stood together for the dignity of the country, and this must become our nature. When we are united like this, no one will dare cast a sidelong glance at us. And if they do, their eyes will be forced shut. But to reach that point, we must cultivate deep love and closeness among ourselves. Such incidents keep happening, and we respond strongly–this time too, we expect the same. But to prevent such events, society must unite. This is the very spirit the Constitution expects from us–emotional integration, a feeling of closeness.”
Bhagwat pointed out the historical division of the nation and warned of continuing ideological threats. “Once, it was said, ‘Our religions are different; we cannot live together.’ And the nation was divided. We accepted this, perhaps with the hope that things would improve. But even after 75 years, that hope remains unfulfilled. Just recently, the Army Chief of Pakistan reiterated the two-nation theory in his speech.
We must take this seriously. The whole world is one family. No matter the religion or sect, eventually, everyone moves toward the same truth. Hatred is not our nature. Enmity is not our nature. But neither should helplessness be our nature. A powerful person should choose nonviolence. The weak have no other option. Our strength must be visible; only then will the world understand that these people are strong and should not be provoked. Only then do the evil forces of the world begin to understand.”
In his speech, Bhagwat combined calls for moral clarity, national unity, and strategic strength as essential tools in the face of ongoing challenges like terrorism, urging citizens to uphold righteousness while fostering unity in diversity.