Mumbai, Mar 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur, marking the birth anniversary of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. This visit made Modi the first sitting Indian prime minister to do so.
Modi was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and the two leaders were seen having a casual conversation. The visit coincided with Gudi Padwa, the Maharashtrian new year, and the 100th year of the RSS.
After visiting the RSS headquarters, Modi went to Deekshabhoomi, where Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and his followers embraced Buddhism. This was Modi’s second visit to Deekshabhoomi, the first being in 2017.
Modi’s visit is seen as an effort to strengthen ties between the BJP and its ideological parent, the RSS, amid past reports of friction. The RSS has traditionally played a key role in selecting the BJP national president, and the visit comes as the party is finalizing a successor for J.P. Nadda.
An RSS functionary in Nagpur, who did not wish to be named, stated that Modi’s visit reaffirmed the strong ties between BJP and RSS, dismissing speculation of differences.
BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari downplayed the significance of the visit, saying, “Today is Gudi Padwa, an auspicious day for all of us. And so, the PM visited there (RSS headquarters) to take blessings. Also, this is the 100th year of the RSS and he visited to maybe discuss how to take things forward. Besides, I don’t think how going there is something out of the box. BJP leaders and RSS functionaries keep on meeting regularly. (L.K.) Advaniji used to go, Atalji (Vajpayee) had also visited the headquarters.”
Political commentator Hemant Desai described the visit as an attempt to improve coordination between the BJP and RSS. “The RSS has never liked a personality cult in the BJP that’s seen now in the leadership of PM Modi. Mohan Bhagwat had made statements indicating the outfit’s displeasure with this kind of a personality cult. After the Lok Sabha election, though, we can see the BJP and the RSS trying to work more closely together. Modi has also made statements praising the RSS,” he said. “With a prime minister going to the RSS headquarters, the BJP is also giving the message that Hindutva and nationalism are one and the same thing,” he added.
The visit also comes 10 days after communal clashes in Nagpur, linked to protests by Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal over Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khuldabad. Tensions arose after reports of protesters allegedly burning a cloth with Islamic holy inscriptions on it. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed these as rumors.
