Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat Thursday said India cannot be assured about its security without becoming self-reliant in defence production, while underlining that the country should purchase defence equipment from international market on its own terms. Bhagwat was delivering his annual Vijyadashmi speech at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur.

The Sangh was founded on the occasion of Vijyadashmi in 1925, and its chiefs' annual speech has been used to put out the organisation's perspectives on issues of national and social importance. Bhagwat's remarks on defence production assume significance as the BJP-led government is under attack from the Congress over the Rafale fighter jet deal with France.