One month, two statements: Congress hits out at RSS chief Bhagwat on retirement comments

The Congress on Friday attacked RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat over his clarification that he never suggested leaders should retire at 75. Jairam Ramesh said Bhagwat had made “contradictory statements” in one month, amid speculation targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi: The Congress on Friday took a swipe at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his remarks that he had never stated that he would retire or that someone else should retire at 75, and said that in over a month, he had made “contradictory statements”.

The comments by Bhagwat put at rest speculation over his recent remarks on the retirement of leaders, which were seen as a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both Modi and Bhagwat turn 75 next month.

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Tagging media reports on Bhagwat’s statement on Thursday and in July, Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said, “One month, one person, two contradictory statements.”

Responding to questions on Thursday during the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) here, Bhagwat said, “We are ready to retire anytime in life and ready to work as long as the Sangh wants us to work”.

On the issue of retiring at 75 years, Bhagwat said he had quoted late RSS leader Moropant Pingle in Nagpur recently while highlighting his witticism. “He was so witty that his witticism made you bounce in your chair…Once in our programme, we were all there, all-India karyakarta, and he (Pingle) completed his 75 years.

So he was given a shawl and was asked to say something…he stood up and said that ‘you might be thinking that you have felicitated me, but I know when this shawl is given it means you sit in a chair calmly and see what happens’,” Bhagwat said. Pingle was felicitated with a shawl on attaining the age of 75 years.

The RSS chief clarified that his reference to 75 years was not directed at any leader’s retirement. Bhagwat on Thursday asserted he had never stated that he would retire or that someone else should retire at 75.

“So this is not for the retirement of anybody or for myself. We are ready to retire anytime in life. And, we are ready to work as long as Sangh wants us to work,” he said. “I never said that I will retire or that someone else should retire.” The RSS chief said in the Sangh, swayamsewaks are given a job, whether they want it or not, and they have to do it.