Leaders of the Congress and other Opposition parties used the opportunity to target Prime Minister Modi and asked him to put the words into practice.
Published Jul 11, 2025 | 11:01 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 11, 2025 | 11:01 AM
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. (RSS)
Synopsis: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat remarked that leaders should step aside at the age of 75, sparking speculation that it was directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turns 75 in September. Congress used the opportunity to target Modi and asked him to put the words into practice.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat remarked that leaders should step aside at the age of 75, sparking speculation that it was directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turns 75 in September. It should also be noted that Bhagwat will turn 75 in September, less than a week before Modi.
Speaking at a book release event dedicated to late RSS ideologue Moropant Pingle in Nagpur on Wednesday,9 July, Bhagwat said, “When you turn 75, it means you should stop now and make way for others.”
Bhagwat invoked late RSS leader Pingle to buttress his point.
“Moropant Pingle once said that if you are honoured with a shawl after turning 75, it means that you should stop now, you are old; step aside and let others come in,” Mohan Bhagwat said in his speech. He added that Moropant, despite his devotion to national service, believed in withdrawing gracefully once the age signalled it was time.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Congress and other Opposition parties used the opportunity to target Prime Minister Modi and asked him to put the words into practice.
In a post in Hindi on X, Congress general secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said, “Poor award-seeking Prime Minister! What a homecoming this is – on returning he was reminded by the Sarsanghchalak that he will turn 75 on 17 September 2025.”
“But the Prime Minister can also tell the Sarsanghchalak that – he too will turn 75 on 11 September 2025! One arrow, two targets!” he said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said, “PM Modi forced leaders like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, and Jaswant Singh to retire after they turned 75. Let’s see if he applies the same rule to himself now.”
Congress Working Committee Member Pawan Khera took a swipe at Modi and Bhagwat, and wrote in Hindi on X, “Now both of you pick up the bag and go guide each other.”
“Preaching without practice is always dangerous. It is unprincipled that the Margdarshak Mandal was given compulsory retirement applying the 75 years age limit, but indications are clear that the current dispensation will be exempted from this rule,” Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said.
In the past Union Home Minister Amit Shah had dismissed the suggestion that Modi should step down at 75. However, Shah — now 60 — said on Thursday that he would like to devote his retired life to the study of the Vedas and Upanishads.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
