'Father is alive': Fadnavis reacts sharply to Sanjay Raut's speculation on PM Modi’s retirement

Mumbai: Hours after Narendra Modi met RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut sparked off the debate on the Prime Minister’s successor saying that the visit to the RSS headquarters of Nagpur was to announce his retirement.

The Congress has backed the statement of Raut, who is a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Slamming Raut, Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said that the country and the party is looking at Modi as the PM even after 2029.

Coinciding with the Gudi Padwa festivities on Sunday, Modi, accompanied by Dr Bhagwat, visited the Hedgewar Smruti Mandir at Reshimbagh, which houses the memorial of first two Sarsanghchalaks - Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar. The Smruti Mandir which conducts the training camps for RSS volunteers (Swayamsevaks) is located near Hedgewar Bhavan, the headquarters of RSS in Mahal area.

During the visit, showering praises on Modi, said: “RSS is the modern Akshay Vat of the immortal culture of India, this Akshay Vat is continuously energizing Indian culture and the consciousness of our nation”.

However, on Monday, Raut, who is a Rajya Sabha member and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s chief spokesperson, said that the visit was connected to the retirement of Modi, who is currently serving the third term.

“Modi ji’s successor will be from Maharashtra, and RSS will decide on that…Modi ji visited RSS headquarters to discuss his retirement plans. To my knowledge, in the last 10-11 years, Modi ji has never visited the RSS headquarters. This time, he went to inform Mohan Bhagwat ji that he is saying 'rata-bye-bye',” Raut said.

“There are two things I have understood about the RSS: first, the Sangh Parivar wants a change in the country’s leadership; and second, Modi ji’s time is over, and he himself wants change,” he added.

Fadnavis clarifies

Reacting sharply, Fadnavis said that talking about such succession is part of Mughal culture. “There is no need to search for his successor. He (Modi) is our leader and will continue. Discussing succession while the leader is active is inappropriate in Indian culture. In our culture, when the father is alive, it is inappropriate to talk about succession. That is Mughal culture. The time has not come to discuss it,” he said. "Modi j is our leader, and he will continue to work in the future. That is our desire...Everyone wants to see Modi ji as Prime Minister even in 2029. We are not worthy of discussing such matters,” he added.

Congress backs Raut

On the comments of Raut, Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha member Husain Dalwai said: “I think what he (Raut) said is right. They retire people who have crossed 75 years. Modi is also ageing, so maybe they are thinking about retirement now. He must have gone there to make them happy… RSS is a terrorist organisation and formed organisations like VHP and Bajrang Dal.”

No such question: RSS

Meanwhile, the RSS has decided to stay away from the entire issue. "Where is the question," asked former RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi. "Whenever time comes, it will be done as per the Sangh culture and traditions.