RSS views now more aligned with Modi’s? Mohan Bhagwat says Sangh not opposed to FDI, liberalisation

The audience at the event comprised leading industrialists, retired
bureaucrats, ex-armed forces personnel, former intelligence chiefs, authors,
classical dancers and some journalists and was organised to discuss the
Sarsanghchalak’s Vijaydashmi address at Nagpur, in which he laid down the
Sangh’s views on politics, economics and foreign policy.       

However, Bhagwat was very clear that the quest for FDI cannot be at the expense
of small domestic manufacturers. The 63 year old veterinary doctor said, ‘If
you can produce anything in India, there is no need to import it. If something
is not made in India then getting it from abroad is okay. But the trade should
be on your terms and conditions. Big MNC’s should not be dictating terms to the
government.’

Bhagwat indicating a tempering of the Sangh’s position on foreign investment by
multi-nationals when he was asked about a potential clash between the Sangh’s
traditional position opposing foreign investment and the liberal economic
policy framework being promised by the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate
Narendra Modi. The Sarsanghchalak responded saying, ‘We have a vision but there
is a reality about the way global trade and commerce is being organized at this
time. Our view also evolves over time. But there is a need for balance. While
FDI in some sectors is okay, why kill small traders. What can be done by small
industry, why do we need big industrialists for that?’        

While indicating a willingness to accept FDI in certain sectors, Bhagwat made
it clear that foreign investment in education was a strict no go for the RSS.
‘Education should not be commercialized. When foreign universities come in
they start thinking of earning dollars. We cannot have content without culture.
We must promote our own teaching practices without blindly chasing the West.’   

Bhagwat also advocated an extremely hardline view on India’s relations with
Pakistan, one that could send alarm bells ringing in the foreign establishment
corridors both in New Delhi and Islamabad. ‘Government of India’s policy on
Pakistan is extremely meek. India should not have let Pak become a nuclear
powered country in the first place. China controls what happens in its
neighbourhood. Does it not? Why can’t India do the same in its own
neighbourhood?’ 

Bhagwat also stressed that Pakistan having nuclear weapons was no reason for
India to continue to suffer attack after attack emanating from Pakistani soil.
‘So what if they have nuclear weapons. Can they take on the joint opinion of
the whole world? India should have deterrent power and a strategy to forcefully
implement that power. Since the time Pakistan has been created they have been
infiltrating terror and creating trouble for us. We should have had a strategy
to ensure that they would not be able to trouble us.  They attack our
camps and our government wants to meet their leaders. How can Pakistan even
muster the courage to attack us? This government has failed miserably.’

Bhagwat summed up the evening by trying to underplay the role the Sangh would
play in the Modi campaign and during a possible future prime ministership. ‘We
travel all across the country and interact directly with people on the ground.
Our job is only to convey to Modi what people are saying. Our job is not to
implement policy decisions. That we leave to those elected by the people.’