LUCKNOW — Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat dismissed concerns over international tariff disputes during a speech in Lucknow. Addressing a workshop at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, he declared India would stand firm. “We will not bow before any nation,” Bhagwat said. “After some time, everything will normalise.”

Bhagwat pointed to India’s economic resilience as a key strength. He described the nation’s economy as rooted in households, not dominated by capitalists or banks alone. This foundation, he argued, shields India from external pressures.

The RSS leader envisioned a prominent global role for India. He stated the country would one day guide the Global South. Such confidence comes amid escalating trade tensions between major powers like the United States and China.

Bhagwat shifted focus to social unity. He called Hindu dharma the true essence of human values. “Rather than identifying ourselves by caste or sect, we should see ourselves as Hindus,” he told the audience.

Caste divisions, he said, are fading fast—especially among the young. In the RSS, no one inquires about caste, Bhagwat noted. Everyone is treated as Hindu. To root out caste from society, Indians must first forget it themselves. “The day caste ceases to matter in society, leaders who practise caste-based politics will also change,” he added.

Linguistic identities deserve no special emphasis, either. Bhagwat urged a broader Hindu identity over narrow regional or group affiliations.

Family remains central to his vision. He stressed strengthening bonds and passing down religious values at home. Even when relatives live apart, emotional ties must endure. Children should stay linked to family traditions and kin, he said.

Bhagwat also addressed temple governance. Temples should fall under devotee control, not government oversight. “We also want temple administration to be in the hands of devotees,” he remarked. Religious leaders and upright individuals could manage them jointly—but only with proper preparation.

Temple funds must serve national interests and Hindu welfare, Bhagwat insisted. His comments echo long-standing demands from Hindu groups for autonomy in religious institutions.

The workshop drew RSS affiliates and local supporters. Bhagwat’s remarks blend economic optimism with calls for cultural cohesion. India faces no immediate tariff threats, he maintained, thanks to its self-reliant structure.

Speaking on October 12, Bhagwat linked personal discipline to national strength. Forget caste. Embrace family. Unite as Hindus. These steps, he said, pave the way for India’s rise.