RSS chief Bhagwat says strengthening ties with Nepal’s neighbors to counter China

Kathmandu: Mohan Bhagwat, head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which influences the policy-making of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has said relations with neighboring countries, including Nepal, need to be strengthened to challenge China.
Addressing an annual event organized by the RSS on the occasion of Vijayadashami in Nagpur, India, he slammed China for encroaching on Indian land in Ladakh. “Our military has given a very big answer to China,” he said. We patriots stand together.
“We need to be stronger than China by improving our strategic readiness, economic strength, international relations, and we need to have more access to our neighbors,” he said. Bhagwat also said that relations with neighboring countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and others should be strengthened. ‘They have been like us in many ways for thousands of years. We need to connect with them immediately. There are always some disputes and differences with the neighbors but we should try to clarify them as soon as possible, ”he said.
The RSS is considered to be very influential in the policy making of the BJP. Some of the ministers in the Modi-led government also have worked for the RSS in the past.
Modi himself had earlier worked as an RSS propagandist. Bhagwat’s remarks came at a time when the Modi-led government has been rushing to improve relations with neighboring countries, including Nepal. In the last few years, the influence of the RSS in its relations with Nepal has been increasing.