NAGPUR: RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday warned about environmental degradation and its intensified effects in the Himalayas, linking them to “faulty global development models and materialist and consumerist approaches” that disrupt climate balance.He flagged these ecological threats in his annual Vijayadashami address, coinciding with the centenary of the Nagpur-headquartered RSS. Former President Ram Nath Kovind attended as chief guest, along with Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.“We need to review our policy if current development models are aggravating these issues. The Himalayas’ situation is a warning bell. Irregular rainfall, landslides, and glacier drying have intensified over the last 3-4 years,” Bhagwat said, speaking weeks after nature’s fury struck large parts of northern India.Since Southeast Asia’s water supply originates in the Himalayas, which also act as a protective wall for India, Bhagwat cautioned that disasters in the region should serve as a wake-up call. He said the present development model, based on a “materialist and compartmentalised approach,” is directly linked to recent ecological disasters. “The adverse effects of our lifestyle are now visible in India, with inconsistent rainfall and increasing natural disasters,” Bhagwat added.Bhagwat also expressed concern over regional turmoil, including Nepal, and referenced the Pahalgam terror attack and US tariff hikes to stress the need for stronger security and economic self-reliance. “The Pahalgam attack tested our unity, leadership, and armed forces. US tariff policy is self-interested; we must strengthen economic freedom and ensure global interdependence never becomes a compulsion,” he said.He cited regime changes in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, attributing them to public anger and warning that forces aiming to create disturbances in India are active inside and outside the country. He stressed importance of stability, and prosperity in neighbouring nations, reflecting India’s natural affinity with them.Bhagwat acknowledged signs of growth in India but warned against systemic flaws: “The widening rich-poor gap, concentration of economic power, environmental degradation, and rising transnationalism over genuine human relationships cannot be ignored.”Recalling the April 22 Pahalgam strike that killed 26 tourists, he lauded India’s Operation Sindoor in May as a reflection of leadership, armed forces readiness, and societal unity. He emphasized vigilance, enhanced security, and the inherent strength of Hindu society as an inclusive force that guarantees national unity and development.
