Mohan Bhagwat’s ‘retirement at 75’ remark sparks row, Opposition asks if PM Modi will step down

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comment on Thursday about the practice of stepping aside at the age of 75 has sparked questions from the Opposition about whether he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also step down from their posts.

Bhagwat Modi will turn 75 in September. The RSS is the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

At an event in Nagpur on Wednesday to launch a book about late RSS ideologue Moropant Pingle, Bhagwat narrated an anecdote about a meeting of the Hindutva organisation in which Pingle was felicitated with a shawl on turning 75.

Bhagwat recounted that when Pingle was asked to address the event, he said: “‘People start laughing at me when I stand...Because I feel that people are not taking me seriously...you felicitated me on turning 75, but I know what it means. When you are honoured with a shawl on turning 75, it means that now you have grown old, now just move aside, let us do it.’”

Following Bhagwat’s comment, the Congress’ communications chief Jairam Ramesh said on Friday that Modi had been reminded by Bhagwat that he will turn 75 in September.

Ramesh added: “But the prime minister could also tell the RSS chief that he too will turn 75 on September 11, 2025! One arrow,...

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