Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, who has been at the helm of the organisation for more than 16 years, turns 75 on Thursday. He is the third longest-serving chief of the Sangh after Madhukar Dattatreya Deoras, and M.S. Golwalkar.
Bhagwat is known for his statements aimed at projecting a benign and modern image of RSS. While some of his remarks were hailed as reformative, a few others have stirred up controversies.
Here are five statements made by Bhagwat in recent years that created ripples in the political circles.
'Retire at 75'
Speaking at a book launch in Nagpur earlier this year, Bhagwat said: “Turning 75 is nature’s signal to pause and give way to others.” The remarks was widely interpreted as aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who also turns 75 on September 17. However, he laid the speculation to rest recently by clarifying that he was merely referring to the statements made by late RSS leader Moropant Pingle in a lighter vein.
‘Resolve Manipur conflict’
Last year, as Manipur was in the grip of large-scale violence and protests, Bhagwat said at an event in Nagpur that there was a need to “get over election rhetoric and focus on problems facing the nation”. The statement is widely viewed as aimed at Prime Minister Modi who had been campaigning for the general elections.
"It's been a year since Manipur has been waiting for peace. The state remained peaceful for the last 10 years, but suddenly, gun culture has increased again. It is important to resolve the conflict as a priority,” Bhagwat said.
‘RSS won’t join Kashi, Mathura movements’
Recently, Bhagwat made it clear the RSS’s stand that the Ram Temple was the only movement that the RSS got involved in and and it would not join any other movement. "However, Kashi, Mathura and Ayodhya are important to Hindus and if they request, our volunteers can join their movements," he said. Bhagwat also reiterated his earlier statement that there was no need to search for a temple or Shivling everywhere.
‘True independence’
In yet another statement which sparked a political row, Bhagwat said the Ram temple consecration day should be celebrated as "Pratishtha Dwadashi," as the "true independence" of Bharat, which faced "parachakra" (foreign invasions) for several centuries, was established that day. The Congress and other opposition parties slammed his statement, terming it as a challenge for democracy.
‘Muslims can attend Shakha’
Earlier this year, Bhagwat said in Varanasi that anyone who respects the ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ slogan and ‘bhagwa jhanda’ (saffron flag) can attend the RSS shakhas. "All Indians are welcome at the shakhas. The only condition is that each one coming to join shakha should have no hesitation in chanting 'Bharat Mata ki jai' and must show respect for the saffron flag,” he said in response to a question as to whether the Muslims can attend the shakhas.
