A recent statement by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has added a new dimension to the political and social discourse in the country. He stated in clear terms that leaders should retire after completing the age of 75.
New Delhi: The statement by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat that leaders should retire after the age of 75 has created a stir in Indian politics. This statement is being linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming 75th birthday (September 2025). In this context, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has made a sharp comment on it, pointing towards the internal relationship between the BJP and the RSS.
Why is Mohan Bhagwat's statement important?
Recently, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said in a public event: Any leader should retire from active politics after completing the age of 75. This statement has come at a time when Bhagwat himself is turning 75 this year and Prime Minister Modi will reach this age in September 2025. Earlier, when the BJP came to power in 2014, the age limit of 75 years was promoted as an informal retirement policy.
Priyanka Chaturvedi's dig: 'The whole world knows...'
Priyanka Chaturvedi targeted Prime Minister Modi on this issue. She said: The whole country knows who is going to turn 75 in September 2025. And not just the country, the whole world knows, because PM Modi has returned from a five-nation visit. She also said that Mohan Bhagwat's statement indicates that the RSS is reminding the BJP of its old promise.
Recalling the 75-year age limit implemented by the BJP in 2014, Priyanka Chaturvedi said: In 2014, the BJP had made a rule that leaders above 75 years of age would be sent to the 'Margdarshan Mandal'. Many senior leaders of the party were sidelined on this basis at that time. Now that this rule is about to be applied to the Prime Minister, everyone has forgotten.
Tension between BJP-RSS?
Priyanka Chaturvedi also said that what is going on between the RSS and the BJP is clearly visible from Bhagwat's statement. This is an internal fight between two families, and we do not want to interfere in it. Let them make a decision among themselves and then update the public. Political analysts believe that this statement could be a sign of changes in future ruling politics.
This is not the first time that the BJP's 75-year retirement policy has come under question. In 2014, veterans like Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, and Shanta Kumar were sidelined under this policy. But with time, many exceptions have also been seen in this rule.
