The RSS chief said this while attending the 7th Foundation Day celebrations of Brahmakumari Vishwa Shanti Sarovar in Nagpur, where he spoke on India’s role in the world and the need for collective thinking.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said that tariffs have been imposed on India due to fear of its growth. He stressed that global powers are worried about India’s growing power. The RSS chief said this while attending the 7th Foundation Day celebrations of Brahmakumari Vishwa Shanti Sarovar in Nagpur, where he spoke on India’s role in the world and the need for collective thinking.

Without naming any country, Bhagwat said that people are afraid of what will happen to them if someone else becomes bigger. Where will they be if India becomes big? So they imposed tariffs.

He clarified that the imposition of tariffs was not India’s fault but due to fear over its growing position on the global stage. “We did nothing; they are appeasing the one who did all this, because if it is with them, they can put some pressure on India,” Bhagwat said. The RSS chief said such moves are a result of a self-centred mindset. “All this happens in the game of ‘me and mine’. When they understand that ‘me and mine’ is actually ‘we and ours’, all issues end. Today the world needs a solution,” Bhagwat clarified.

The remarks come amid the US imposing a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, including an additional 25 per cent tariff on account of India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. Terming the United States’ move to impose additional tariffs on India on oil imports from Russia as “unjustified”, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had announced that New Delhi will take all necessary action to protect its national interests.