Overview

• Bhagwat urged a development model centered on aatmanirbharta and swadeshi, calling for purchases of locally made goods.
• He said international trade should be voluntary and pressure-free, adding that items not produced domestically should be imported.
• His clarification followed reports of a 25% US tariff on India over purchases of Russian oil, which he referenced to stress autonomous policy choices.
• He warned about moral erosion and social discord, invoking Gandhi’s ‘seven sins’ and cautioning against radicalisation, consumerism, cancel culture and wokeism.
• He called for decades-long RSS outreach to all sections of society, promoted cultural practices like traditional festival attire and mother-tongue signatures, and emphasized shared heritage to bridge religious divides.