Mohan Bhagwat says India should be better prepared economically & militarily to checkmate PRC’s expansionist designs

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh supremo Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday that India needed to be militarily better prepared against China. Calling the PRC ‘expansionist’, he asked 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. He was referring to the Indo-China border tensions between the two countries that also saw violent flare-up earlier in the Galwan Valley. “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 neighbouring nations,” added Bhagwat. It’s clear to the world how China intruded & still attempting intrusions on our borders. Everyone’s aware of its expansionist behaviour. China picked up a fight with Taiwan, Vietnam, US, Japan & India but India’s response stunned China. He praised the “indomitable ethical-patience of our citizens”, which he added must compel China to reform its attitude. “We intend to be friendly with all. This is our nature. But mistaking our benevolence for weakness and attempts to disintegrate or weaken us by sheer brute force is unacceptable. Referring to the COVID-19, Bhagwat said people need not be scared of coronavirus, but ‘’should remain alert, cautious and follow the guidelines. We cannot stop living. Coronavirus is spreading but fatalities are less. Due to the pandemic, we have started learning the importance of hygiene, cleanliness, environment, family values all over again,” he said. Coronavirus has given rise to challenges of unemployment. Many lost jobs and labourers are now returning to cities. But the jobs may not be there. The challenge is to create employment opportunities in different places, he said. Bhagwat, who was addressing  Vijayadashami Celebrations at Nagpur headquarters of RSS  marking the conclusion of the 9-day Nav Durga fest, said several crucial issues facing the people and the nation have been overshowed due to the pandemic threatening lives and livelihoods.  There is no threat to the Muslim community due to CAA. The opposition to the legislation is due to misinterpretation. In fact, no Indian citizen was threatened due to CAA. Before any step could be taken to resolve the issue, the coronavirus pandemic happened, he said.’’ Our detractors must know this by now” that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is not against any particular religious community, adding some people misled our Muslim brothers claiming it was aimed at restricting their population. Before the issue could be discussed further, the focus shifted on coronavirus. “The communal flare in minds of a few people stayed in their minds only. Coronavirus overshadowed all other topics,” he added.