PM Narendra Modi’s Landmark RSS Visit: Bridging Gaps Amid BJP-RSS Tensions
For the first time since assuming office as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi visited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur on Sunday, March 30.
During this visit, he paid homage to RSS founder icons Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and M.S. Golwalkar. The visit is perceived as an effort to resolve tensions between the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
A Significant Visit Amid Political Speculation
Accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Modi also laid the foundation stone for Madhav Netralaya, an RSS-supported eye hospital. Reports indicate that Modi and Bhagwat engaged in discussions on the sidelines of the event.
The visit comes amid speculation regarding a rift between the RSS and the BJP, particularly concerning the appointment of the new BJP president and other policy issues. Modi’s visit is seen as an effort to mend ties with the RSS leadership.
Downplaying Political Friction
Several leaders described the visit as “historic,” emphasizing that no differences exist between the Sangh and the BJP. However, tensions between the two peaked during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections following BJP president J.P. Nadda’s statement that the BJP no longer needed RSS assistance, asserting its self-sufficiency.
Nadda’s remarks reportedly upset RSS leadership, leading to its strategic distancing from the BJP during the elections. The impact was evident, as the BJP, which aimed for 400 seats, secured only 240 Lok Sabha seats—a significant shortfall.
RSS’s Criticism of BJP and Modi
Following the elections, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat subtly criticized Modi on two occasions for referring to himself as a “godsend” and for suggesting that he was not a normal biological human being.
Additionally, the RSS openly criticized the Modi government’s handling of the Manipur conflict.
Despite initial tensions, several rounds of discussions led the RSS to extend support to the BJP in the Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections.
Sanjay Raut’s Bold Claims
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut made a striking claim on Monday, stating that the RSS would decide Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s successor, who, he asserted, would hail from Maharashtra.
Raut alleged that Modi’s visit to the RSS headquarters was linked to discussions about his retirement.
Raut’s Statement on Modi’s Retirement
“Modi’s successor will be from Maharashtra, and the RSS will decide on that,” Raut told reporters during a press conference. He further stated, “PM Modi visited RSS headquarters to discuss his retirement plans.”
Additionally, Raut revealed that he had written a book based on his jail experiences, which would be published in the next 15 days.
He dismissed speculation about its contents, stating that it only documented his personal experiences inside jail and events that occurred outside during that period.
Honoring RSS Founders and Dr. Ambedkar
On Sunday, Modi paid floral tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh, Nagpur. The visit coincided with Varsha Pratipada, which also marks Hedgewar’s birth anniversary.
He was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and other leaders.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also paid tribute to Hedgewar, underscoring the visit’s importance.
RSS member Seshadri Chari described the visit as “very important and historic,” reiterating that no rift existed between the BJP and the RSS. “People talk a lot about the RSS-BJP relationship, but there is no difference in opinion between them,” Chari emphasized.
Modi’s Packed Schedule in Nagpur
Modi’s visit included a stop at Dr. Hedgewar Smruti Mandir in the Reshimbagh area of Nagpur, where the memorials of Hedgewar and Golwalkar are located. His visit coincided with the RSS’s Gudi Padwa function, adding symbolic weight to the occasion.
An official release stated that Modi would “pay homage to the founding fathers of the RSS” at Smruti Mandir.
His previous visits to the RSS headquarters include attending former RSS chief K.S. Sudershan’s funeral in September 2012 and a visit in July 2013, shortly before he was announced as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
Additionally, Modi paid tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi, where Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in 1956 along with thousands of followers.
Foundation Stone Laid for Madhav Netralaya
During the visit, Modi laid the foundation stone for Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, an extension of the Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute and Research Centre.
Established in memory of Golwalkar, the center will house a 250-bed hospital, 14 outpatient departments (OPDs), and 14 modular operation theatres, offering affordable eye care.
Inauguration of UAV Airstrip and Security Measures
Modi also visited the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited’s facility, where he inaugurated a 1,250-meter-long, 25-meter-wide airstrip for Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and a live munition and warhead testing facility to support guided arms development.
Ahead of the visit, security in Nagpur was heightened. The Special Protection Group (SPG) and Nagpur police conducted a full rehearsal of the PM’s route and event locations.
Over 5,000 police personnel, including Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads, Anti-Riot Squads, and Quick Response Teams, were deployed. Additionally, 900 traffic officers managed route security.
Significance of the Visit
While Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule asserted that there was nothing “political” about Modi’s trip, the visit occurred against the backdrop of strained BJP-RSS ties.
The tension escalated after BJP chief J.P. Nadda’s remarks that the BJP no longer needed the RSS’s “hand-holding.”
Following the 2024 general elections, where the BJP suffered due to RSS’s perceived distancing, efforts have been ongoing to mend relations between the two entities.
Modi’s visit to the RSS headquarters is widely viewed as a crucial step in realigning BJP-RSS relations as the party prepares for future political battles.
