'RETIRE AT 75': WAS RSS CHIEF AIMING AT MODI?

With the Indian premier turning 75 in September, speculation grows about succession plans - and Sangh's role in them

- BY SWATI CHATURVEDI | Special to Gulf News

Mohan Bhagwat, the paterfamilias of the Sangh Parivar and the Sarsanghchalak (chief) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — the mothership of the BJP — repeated a fervent article of faith of the organisation, saying that “leaders should retire at 75”.

Bhagwat was speaking at a book release function in Nagpur, where the Sangh headquarters is also located, on June 11.

Bhagwat was speaking in Marathi but switched to Hindi to make this important point, ensuring his comments were widely understood and leaving no room for misinterpretation.

Bhagwat’s comments drew feverish opposition speculation because Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 75 in September — just like Bhagwat himself. Bhagwat’s birthday is September 11, and Modi was born six days later on the 17th. The opposition claimed that Bhagwat was giving a public nudge to Modi, with Abhishek Singhvi of the Congress saying that “preaching without practice is always dangerous. It is unprincipled that the Margdarshak Mandal was given compulsory retirement applying the 75 age limit, but indications are clear that the present dispensation will be given an exemption from this rule.”