At a time when the tariff controversy is at its peak, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat made a strong pitch for self-reliance, on Wednesday asserting that international trade should take place voluntarily and not under pressure. He emphasised self-reliance and using indigenous products, advocating for international engagement by choice, not pressure, aligning with the true spirit of swadeshi.
Addressing a lecture series here to mark the centenary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bhagwat said self-reliance was the key to all issues and stressed the need to prioritise indigenous products.He cautioned against excessive imports that harm local vendors and highlighted the growing fanaticism and the crisis of wokeism in the world, urging a return to Dharma for balance and acceptance of diversity. Bhagwat said the true spirit of Swadeshi was to make nation's policy engage internationally by choice and not under pressure.
“Being aatmnirbhar (self-reliant) does not mean stopping imports. The world moves because it is interdependent. So export-import will continue. However, there should be no pressure in it,” Bhagwat said."Self-reliance is the key to everything. Our country must be be self-reliant. For self-reliance, priority should be given to the use of indigenous products.
He said swadeshi does not mean not importing goods that the country already has or can manufacture easily. “Bringing goods from outside hurts local vendors,” he said. Bhagwat’s remarks came on a day when the additional 25 per cent tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump on India for its purchases of Russian oil came into effect.
“Whatever is made in your country, there is no need to import it from outside. Whatever is necessary for life and is not made in your country, we will import it from outside.“The country’s policy should be done voluntarily, one should not go under pressure. This is swadeshi,” Bhagwat said.
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