'RSS Energises Indian Culture, Consciousness': PM Visits HQ

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur, his first since taking over the top job in 2014, putting to rest speculations of a rift between the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fountainhead, which celebrates its centenary this year.

- Pradip Kumar Maitra

NAGPUR:

Modi, who became only the second sitting PM after Atal Bihari Vajpayee to visit the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, described the Sangh as the "banyan tree" of India's immortal culture, emphasising that the principles and ideals give height to this great tree, with lakhs of volunteers as its branches. Incidentally, the visit by both Modi and Vajpayee, who visited RSS headquarters in 2000, came during their third term as the PM.

Modi's last visit to Sangh's administrative headquarters came in 2013, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.

During his trip, PM Modi visited the Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir at RSS headquarters and paid homage to the founding fathers of the Sangh. He also laid the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, a new extension building of Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre, named after late RSS chief Madhavrao Golwalkar.

"The RSS is the modern Akshay Vat (banyan tree) of the immortal culture of India and is continuously energising Indian culture and the consciousness of our nation," Modi said, while speaking at the Madhav Netralaya event.

Modi — who was accompanied by RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari during his visit — said the volunteers of Sangh are working selflessly in various spheres and parts of the country.

Speaking of RSS volunteers, the PM lauded their "exemplary work" during the recently concluded Maha Kumbh fair in Prayagraj, where they assisted millions through the Netra Kumbh initiative, saying that wherever there is a need for service, the volunteers are present.