New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement that leaders should step aside at 75, has got the Congress wondering if it applies to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turns 75 this September.
Bhagwat will himself attain the age of 75 on September 11, six days ahead of Modi.
“Poor award-jeevi Prime Minister! What a homecoming – reminded by the RSS chief upon return that he will turn 75 on September 17, 2025,” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted on X in Hindi.
Modi returned after a five-nation tour – his longest diplomatic mission so far. Ramesh further wrote that the PM could also remind the RSS chief that he too will turn 75 on September 11. “One arrow, two targets,” he said in his post.
Ramesh’s colleague Pawan Khera also took a jibe at Modi following Bhagwat’s remark.
“Now both of you pick up your bags and go guide each other,” he tweeted in Hindi.
He also posted a video on X, calling Bhagwat’s remark “good news” while also slamming the PM Modi-RSS chief duo for destroying the Constitution and country.
If not in politics, the Prime Minister would probably have entered Bollywood, Khera added.
“Bollywood toh bach gaya, lekin desh nahin bach paya. (Bollywood got saved, but the country didn’t),” he wrote.
Bhagwat made the remark during a book release event dedicated to late RSS ideologue Moropant Pingley in Nagpur. The RSS chief specifically referred to Pingley’s comments that when the shawl of 75 years is draped over one, it means that he has reached a certain age and should step aside and allow others to work.
Modi had visited the RSS headquarters in March after several years. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had then claimed that the visit was for the Prime Minister to announce his retirement. “As per my knowledge, he has never visited the RSS headquarters in 10 to 11 years. RSS wants change in leadership. PM Modi is now leaving,” Raut had said.
The BJP had, however, denied any such plan, calling the visit a routine one.
