'Bechare Pradhanmantri!': Congress Taunts Modi Over RSS Chief's Call For Leaders To Retire At 75

Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders interpreted it as a jab at PM Modi, who turns 75 next year, highlighting potential RSS-BJP tensions.

Mohan Bhagwat's suggestion that leaders retire at 75, referencing a Sangh tradition, has ignited political controversy.

Source : PTI

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that leaders should retire at the age of 75 has sparked a retirement age row. 

Speaking during an event in Nagpur on Wednesday, Bhagwat mentioned Sangh ideologue late Moropant Pingley's statement about stepping aside at the age of 75.

He specifically referred to Pingley's remark that when the shawl of 75 years is draped over you, it means that you have reached a certain age and should step aside and let others work.

Pivoting on Bhagwat's remark, the Congress party took a dig at the RSS chief and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as both will turn 75 in September. 

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh took to the social media platform X to take a barb at Modi, who returned on Thursday from his five-nation tour. 

"Poor award-winning Prime Minister! What a homecoming - reminded by the RSS chief upon return that he will turn 75 on September 17, 2025," he tweeted," said the Congress leader. 

He further wrote that, however, the PM can also remind Bhagwat that he will also turn 75 on September 11. "One arrow, two targets." 

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said that Bhagwat's statement has exposed the internal conflict between the RSS and the BJP. 

"It is a clear message and it is clearly directed at the person who is going to celebrate his 75th birthday in September," Chaturvedi said.  

"Whatever is going on between the RSS and the BJP is clearly visible from their statements. When the BJP formed the government in 2014, they put their leaders above the age of 75 years in the 'margdarshak mandali'. Now, RSS is reminding the BJP after 11 years about the promises it made. Internal conflicts are now public... Nobody knows the fallout of this conflict...," she added. 

Notably, Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal claimed last year that Modi made this rule in 2014 that people aged 75 would be retired. Kejriwal further claimed that Modi will retire this year and will be succeeded by Amit Shah. 

"These people (BJP) ask the INDIA bloc about prime ministerial face. I ask BJP who will be their PM? Modi ji is turning 75 on September 17 next year. He himself made the rule in 2014 that people aged 75 will be retired. They retired LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sumitra Mahajan," Kejriwal said in May 2024 during his first press conference after being released from jail.