A political storm erupted after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat recently said that people should step aside after turning 75. His comments, made during a book launch event, are being seen as a subtle message aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will turn 75 in September 2025.

Bhagwat said, “When you turn 75, it means it’s time to stop and give others a chance.” He recalled RSS ideologue Moropant Pingle’s words, saying, “If you are given a shawl at 75, it means you’re being honored and told to step aside.”

Coincidentally, Bhagwat himself will turn 75 on September 11, just six days before PM Modi, who shares the same milestone this year. This timing has led to intense political chatter.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a jibe, saying, “Poor award-seeking PM! On returning, the RSS chief reminded him he’s turning 75 soon.” He also pointed out that Bhagwat too hits the same age just days earlier — “One arrow, two targets,” he quipped.

Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut recalled how senior BJP leaders like L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi were sidelined after 75, and questioned whether PM Modi would apply the same rule to himself.

Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi criticized the inconsistency: “It’s unfair to enforce the 75-rule on others but not on the current leadership.”

Despite the remarks, BJP leaders maintain that PM Modi isn’t retiring anytime soon. In fact, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had clarified back in May 2023 that Modi will lead the government till at least 2029.

Interestingly, the same day Bhagwat made his statement, Shah spoke at another event about his own post-retirement plans — mentioning he’d like to spend time studying the Vedas and doing organic farming. He turned 60 this April.