NEW DELH – In a significant clarification that addresses a long-running political debate, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has stated that he never suggested a 75-year retirement benchmark for politicians or for himself. His remarks, made at the ‘100 Years Journey of Sangh – New Horizon’ event, were a direct rebuttal of interpretations of his earlier comments, which had been widely seen as a veiled reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders.
The debate over a 75-year retirement age gained prominence due to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) internal policy, which has seen senior leaders like L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi transition into a Margdarshak Mandali (circle of mentors) upon reaching that age, reports said. Both PM Modi and Bhagwat are set to turn 75 next month.
Speaking on Thursday, Bhagwat dismissed the interpretations as a “misreading of his words.” He explained that his previous statements were based on a humorous anecdote about former RSS leader Moropant Pingle. Bhagwat recounted a story where senior leader H.V. Sheshadri presented Pingle with a shawl at age 75. According to Bhagwat, this gesture was meant in jest and not as a call for retirement. “I never said I would retire or someone should retire,” he stated emphatically.