Unity seen in Operation Sindoor grandest form of democracy, it must last

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday gave a clarion call for national unity saying Indians are one and rooted in unity, not in differences.

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“While respecting diversity, we must stay united. We are one. We have forgotten that we are one. The unity seen during Operation Sindoor must last permanently. That is what everyone wants. We do not know how this will happen but we all want this to happen,” Bhagwat said at an RSS event in Nagpur today.

The Sangh chief while congratulating the government for displaying the political will to act tough on terrorists after the Pahalgam terror attack, lauded armed forces for their bravery and capacity.

He also hailed the political class for rising above politics in a show of solidarity for the sake of the nation. But it was for the people at large that Sangh supremo reserved the choicest accolades. “The society presented a magnificent picture of national unity (during Operation Sindoor). If this picture of unity lasts beyond the current context and becomes permanent, it would become a source of great strength for the society. The atmosphere of patriotism we displayed during a difficult time, when we sank our differences, when competitors supported one another — this picture was an example of the grandest form of democracy. This must continue,” Bhagwat said, urging people to rise above provocations, abjure violence and a sense of victimhood and stay one.

He said the problem (of terrorism) has not been solved. “Till there are distortions, till the two nation theory ghosts loom, our society must stay united and vigilant,” Bhagwat said, calling for self-reliance for national security. He said while the government and armed forces will do what they must to secure the country, people's power was the real power.

Recalling British premier Winston Churchill who drew inspiration from the people of England to resist his cabinet's pressures to strike a deal with Hitler, Bhagwat said, “It was the people’s power that gave Churchill the strength to decline the offer of ceasefire and to fight on till victory was attained. Once the allied forces won, he was feted as the lion of England but he said to his -- “you are the lions, I only roared for you”.

Bhagwat called for social harmony and said, "We all have common ancestors. We are rooted in unity, not in differences. Diversity is our strength. We must respect diversity but remember that fundamentally we are one.” He said RSS, which will complete 100 years in October, would continue to work for social harmony and against forced conversions. "We are not against any faith but to present your faith as greater than another's is like abusing one's ancestors. Conversion is violence," he said.