By Arun Srivastava
Even a chameleon cannot contemplate to compete with the swiftness with which RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat changes his colour. In past too he had brazenly demonstrated his skill. Bhagwat has inherited this legacy. The most exceptional instance has been his latest denial that he never suggested Narendra Modi to step down from office once he completes 75 years of age this month. He contradicted his own statement made in July this year at a book release occasion, on August 27 at the three-day lecture series titled ‘100 Years of the Sangh’s Journey – New Horizons’.
On July 9 2025,Bhagwat had said: “When you turn 75, then understand that you must stop, and leave the place for others.” But on 28 August 2025 Bhagwat recoiled: “I never said I will retire or someone should retire. In Sangh, we are given a job, whether we want it or not.” What made him to retract from his July statement. Who he is afraid of? His backtracking obviously implies that that he utterly lacks moral conviction and courage to stand up and take Modi head on.
It is worth mentioning that on 9 July he had said: “75-year rule’ was applied selectively to sideline some leaders, but it doesn’t apply to the top brass.” However on 28 August he said: “I was quoting a witticism by Moropantji (senior Sangh leader Moreshwar Nilkanth Pingle aka ‘Moropant’) about how when someone gives you a ceremonial shawl at 75 you should think of retirement”.
On that day he said “I never said I will retire or someone should retire. In Sangh, we are given a job, whether we want it or not. If I am 80 years old, and Sangh says go and run a ‘shakha’, I will have to do it. We do whatever the Sangh tells us to do…This is not for anyone’s retirement. We are ready to retire or work – as long as the Sangh wants us to”. This is not the case of double speak, instead it underlines his escapist attitude.
People are yet to forget that Bhagwat on July 9 had even said that some people believe themselves to be ‘sent by God’ and even ‘want to become God’. One thing is absolutely clear that he made the July 9 voluntarily and not under any pressure, but he was forced to backtrack under threat. In July he desired to caution Modi, but his latest volte-face sends a clear ,message that he has been asked not to cross Laxman Rekha.
It is beyond imagination that he is such a weak person who cannot withstand the threats, retort the challenges and assert his authority. Yet another reason for his backtracking could be, he does not intend to lose the material benefit and luxuries offered to him by Modi. He told the audience in clear words: “I will remain as long as the RSS would ask me to serve.”
Nevertheless it would be suicidal to take his retreat flippantly. It is loaded with more dangerous implications, that are being noticed in the open. His reversal sends a strong message that saffron ecosystem will resort to more ruthless mechanism to implement its Hindutva agenda. Bhagwat desires to implement the agenda under his direct supervision.
The country and people must be prepared for more intense communal disturbances. His July speech may be seen as the word of caution for Modi to perform. An analysis of the speeches made by Bhagwat would make it clear that he never speaks the truth. He says one thing and resort to some action just opposite to what he had said earlier.
SIR was introduced by Modi at the instruction of RSS. Though the INDIA bloc and opposition parties have been engaged in a bitter fight with the ECI to correct the scheme and ensure that the Dalit, proletariat and minority voters are not disenfranchised, the latest developments and defiant mood of ECI simply reinforce the fear that it would not happen. ECI and CEC Gyanesh Kumar would sacrifice everything to ensure that the RSS’s mission is accomplished.
It is really a tough proposition to unearth the RSS plans and designs. One ought to look at the timing Bhagwat chose to denounce his earlier stance on retirement. With the opposition getting united and prospect of implementation of SIR witnessing hindrance, he has raised this issue. It is simply a tactical ploy to divert the attention of the opposition as well as of the people. Since the SIR is gradually attaining the character of being a national issue, Bhagwat would not like to disturb and strain the relationship between RSS and BJP.
It is noteworthy that suddenly both the leaders Modi and Bhagwat have got scared of the demographic imbalance that the country was facing. He said: “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”. He was simply resorting to political gimmick by saying that “we should give jobs to our own people”. The ground realities are just contrary to his preaching. India has never witnessed this magnitude of unemployment since its Independence.
One development ought to be paid serious attention. Bhagwat on Thursday said the Sangh does not believe in attacking anyone, including on religious grounds, and asserted that Hindu thinking does not say that Islam won’t be there. He said: “Hindus are insecure due to a lack of confidence. No Hindu thinks there will be no Islam. We are one nation first… The RSS doesn’t believe in attacking anyone, including on religious lines”. But he did not forget to mention that roads and places should not be named after “aggressors”. He said: “I am not saying they should not be named after Muslims, but they should not be named after aggressors”. He also made one significant observation: “Imagination of Hindu Rashtra was neither in opposition to anyone nor does it intend to leave out anyone.”
While he spoke about self-reliance, constitutional values, warned against radicalism, wokeism and projected the Sangh as a global example, he made an oblique reference to the organisation’s relationship with the BJP. He said the Sangh does not “remote control” its swayamsevaks (volunteer cadre). The RSS chief said while there was constant communication between the Sangh and the swayamsevaks, they “gradually become independent and do not need the Sangh” Had it been the reality, why he was making the selection of party chief and autocratic style of functioning of Modi a big issue.
With Bhagwat in New Delhi for the three-day event, eyes are focused on his decisions on BJP’s organisational changes and appointments. There is no denying that RSS and BJP are facing their existential crisis. For the survival of saffron ecosystem it is imperative that Bhagwat and Modi must bury their differences for some time. Bhagwat’s laying out RSS vision at ‘100 Years of the Sangh’s Journey – New Horizons’, while is a step in this direction it has also got wider importance. He said Sangh’s vision was on self-reliance, cultural values, governance, and India’s role in shaping a global “dharmic” order as RSS approaches its centenary. Wednesday’s lecture saw attendance of diplomats from over 55 nations. Over 30 international organisations also participated.
Bhagwat is aware that further worsening of the relations between them would not be in the interest of the saffron ecosystem. Unfortunately Modi has been this predicament for his benefit, further pushing Bhagwat to the wall. Bhagwat has his back to the wall is also manifest in his observation that RSS and BJP have good coordination. He said; “There are opinions, but we discuss and form a consensus to decide whether it is against one’s opinion or in favour of it. I will follow the collective decision. When that nature is there, quarrel doesn’t exist. There can be matbhed (difference of opinion) here, but no manbhed (heart-to-heart disagreement). We need to move forward in one direction, and not different ones”.
It is a widely known fact that Modi and Bhagwat have been involved in running feud for nearly one year to have their own favoured president. But the shift in Bhagwat’s stance makes it obvious that Modi has succeeded in having his way and Bhagwat now no more intends to wreck the boat on this issue. Bhagwat tried to assuage the feelings of the Muslims by uttering some goody things, but the reality is they are also apprehensive of the future developments. What has panicked them most is Bhagwat’s assertion that RSS will not take part in any agitation in future, but its workers are free to take part in agitations for Kashi, Mathura ., “it’s only a matter of three (sites), take them”. He urged the Muslims to show magnanimity and help his cadres and Hindu bigots. Bhagwat indicated that the Sangh supported the demand that the sites of the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and the Eidgah at Mathura be given to Hindus. (IPA Service)
