Never said will retire or someone should retire at 75: RSS chief Bhagwat

Ending speculation on the retirement of RSS and BJP leaders on attaining the age of 75 years, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, on Thursday, clarified that he has “never said he is retiring nor has suggested that someone should retire.”

Fielding a host of questions at the end of the three-day lecture series in Delhi to mark the RSS centenary year, Bhagwat quipped, “we are ready to work as long as the RSS asks us to,” indicating his recent comments at an event in Nagpur on the retirement of political leadership were taken out of context.

Both Bhagwat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi turn 75 next month, and the political circles have been abuzz with discussions on the issue, especially with reference to the retirement plan that was handed out to two former BJP President’s L K Advani and M M Joshi, after the BJP victory in the 2024 LS polls.

In a two-and-a-half-hour question-and-answer session, Bhagwat was candid in admitting that the sangh and its affiliates can have a difference in opinion, but each is free to take its own decisions.

Taking a pregnant pause, Bhagwat asked, “If we were deciding, would it have taken so long?” in what is being seen as an allusion towards the long-pending election of the BJP President after the term of the incumbent JP Nadda ended last year.

Elaborating further, the RSS chief explained that as he is an “expert in running a shakha”, those running the “state are experts

“I have been running a shakha for 50 years now, so if someone gives me advice about that, I am the expert there. When it comes to running the State, they have been doing it for long, so they are the expert. We know each other's expertise.” Suggestions can be given, he added, “but the decision in their field is theirs, and ours in our field.”

While expressing concern over illegal immigration and religious conversions, he prescribed a fertility rate of 3 should be maintained with each family having three children. This would maintain a sufficient population while keeping the population also under control, Bhgwat suggested.

“Conversion and illegal migration are key reasons for demographic imbalance. We should not give jobs to illegal immigrants; we should give jobs to our own people, including Muslims,” Bhagwat added while supporting the government’s initiatives on the issue.

“Society also needs to do its part. Religion is by individual choice; there should be no allurement or force in this,” he added.

Reiterating the RSS position on reservations, the RSS chief said the Sangh will continue to support the constitutionally mandated reservations till the beneficiaries do not feel the need. Referring to a religious conclave in Udupi in 1969, Bhagwat added that “untouchability” is not acceptable in the Hindu Dharma.

On the language policy, Bhagwat said the people should come together to decide on a “common transactional language.”

“Everyone should be fluent in their mother tongue, the language of the state, and a transactional language. The more languages one learns, the better,” Bhagwat said.

RSS is planning a massive outreach to mark its centenary year. The Delhi lecture series was part of the year-long programmes that have been scheduled across the country. 

On tariffs imposed by the US, Bhagwat said the RSS the government has to take a policy decision to deal with the situation and people should support it, suggesting trade with countries should not be influenced by pressure or compulsions.