Uh-oh moments indeed for more angrezi channel studio bugs...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 responsed saying, 'We have a vision but there is a reality about the way global trade and commerce is being organised 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 commercialised. When foreign universities come in they start thinking of earning dollars. We cannot have content without culture. We must promote our own teaching practises 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 abe 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.'
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