Nagpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat addressed the closing ceremony of the ‘Karyakarta Vikas Varg II’ in Nagpur and emphasized that India should be self-reliant in matters of national security. He said that while the military and government play their roles, the support of society is equally necessary.
Referring to the terror attack in Pahalgam, Bhagwat praised the strong response by Indian forces and government, which, according to him, proved India’s defense and research capabilities. He said this moment also reflected the unity of society and political will, with people putting aside differences to support the nation.
He warned that the threat is not over. Even though the attackers were punished, challenges like proxy war, cyber warfare, and terrorism continue. He added that the idea of “two-nation theory” is still causing issues, and India must be fully prepared to face modern forms of warfare.
Bhagwat also stressed the importance of social harmony and national unity, especially in a country with such diversity. He said, “We must avoid unnecessary conflicts and not fall into the trap of those who want to divide society for personal gains. India’s true strength lies in its unity.”
On conversion, Bhagwat said, “No one should object to voluntary conversions. But conversions done through force, fraud, or temptation are wrong.” He clarified that the RSS is not against any religion, but welcomes those who want to return to their original faith after being converted forcefully.
Speaking on the Naxalism issue, the event’s chief guest, former Union Minister and social worker Arvind Netam, said that both conversion and Naxalism are major problems in tribal areas.
He said that the RSS and tribal society should work together to tackle these problems. Netam praised the government for its work against Naxalism but said it needs to be eradicated completely. He also highlighted the challenges tribal communities face due to displacement from industrial and development projects, and said their participation in development should be ensured.
RSS training camp
The event marked the end of a 24-day training camp that began on May 12. A total of 840 trainees and 118 teachers participated from across India. Trainees came from all regions including southern, western, central, northern, eastern, and northeastern India.
Participants included students, teachers, engineers, doctors, farmers, self-employed individuals, and RSS pracharaks. Their educational background ranged from 10th pass to PhD holders.
Special international guests
Several international guests attended the event, including:
*Bill Shuster: Former US Congressman from Pennsylvania and former Chair of the House Transportation Committee.
*Bob Shuster – Public policy and business expert, lawyer, and co-founder of One+ Strategies.
*Bradford Elison – Researcher in public policy and expert in investigations and economic regulation.
*Professor Walter Russell Mead – Well-known scholar, author, and expert on international affairs associated with Hudson Institute and Aspen Institute Italy.
*Bill Drexel – AI and technology researcher, fellow at Hudson University, and contributor to Washington Post, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal.
The event focused on national issues such as security, unity, environment, tribal rights, and national integrity, with the RSS chief urging society and government to work together for a stronger and united India.