Norm of 75 not applies to Modi

RSS chief had made the stand clear five years ago

Mumbai: The debate over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s retirement, sparked by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, is likely to die down soon as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had made its stand on this topic clear long ago.

Almost five years ago, the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said that Modi will not be asked to step down after completing 75 years of age, the so-called new norm for retirement. Bhagwat had cleared the air at a meeting of selected columnists from across the nation in Delhi. “Modi won't be asked to step down on completion of 75 years of age, even though that is now a very well-set norm within the RSS inspired organizations,” a columnist present at the meeting quoted Bhagwat as saying.

When the columnist asked why Modi would be an exception to the norm, Bhagwat had replied, “Exceptions confirm the rules.”

Interestingly, in the same session, in a reply to another question, Bhagwat had also indicated that he himself too is likely to be an exception to the rule.

While Bhagwat will complete 75 years of age on September 11 this year Modi will join him in the league six days later.

Raut set the debate after Modi’s visit to ‘Smruti Mandir’, the samadhi of RSS founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar on Sunday. Raut had claimed on Monday that the RSS is set to pick a successor for PM Modi and that Modi visited the RSS headquarters to convey to Mohan Bhagwat that he is retiring. “Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and the entire Sangh Parivar want a change in the country’s leadership. Now, Modi’s term is over,” Raut had said. He reiterated his statement on Tuesday.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too has dismissed Raut’s prediction. “There is no need to search for Modi ji’s successor. He is our leader and will continue to lead the country. In 2029, too, we see him as the Prime Minister. So does the whole country,” Fadnavis said on Monday.