RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Says ‘India Must Not Proceed Blindly’ Amid US Trade & Visa Strains

Last Updated:September 21, 2025, 23:20 IST

Mohan Bhagwat said that India must return to its traditional sanatana approach, which, in his view, "ensures that no one is left behind"

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat

Referring to the escalating tensions between India and the United States around trade policies and H-1B visa regulations, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat called for New Delhi to chart its own path, rather than “blindly following a global order built on self-interest."

Speaking at the launch of the book Everything All At Once: India and the Six Simultaneous Global Transitions, Bhagwat described the current system as one that the world “has been following for the last 2000 years … based on a fragmented vision" and characterised by competing national interests.

He cautioned that India cannot stay passive. “We must do whatever is necessary to get out of it … We can’t proceed blindly," Bhagwat said.

‘Return To Sanatana Approach’

He urged a return to India’s traditional sanatana approach, which, in his view, “ensures that no one is left behind."

Emphasising the need for a moral compass in national policy, he said the country should follow that philosophy even though many nations operate purely out of self-interest.

As India aspires to be a Vishwaguru, Bhagwat stated, it must remain alert to changing global dynamics. “And we will have to fix the ‘ulti dhaara’ (unfavourable currents) as quickly as possible, without any delay," he said.

He also recalled a meeting with “a gentleman from America" two or three years ago, during which collaborative opportunities in security, economy and other sectors were discussed — but always with the stipulation that American interests must be protected.

Bhagwat remarked, “Everyone has an interest, every country has an interest, and it works towards it," adding that, “So, conflict will continue. Then again, it’s not just the nation’s interests that matter. I also have an interest. I want everything in my hands."

Highlighting the importance of agency, he warned: “The one who is at the top of the food chain will eat everybody, and living at the bottom of the food chain is a crime."

Bhagwat’s remarks arrive at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been emphasising “swadeshi" and self-reliance.

The debate over US visa fees and protectionist trade actions has added urgency to questions about how India should respond on the world stage.

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