On July 11, 2025, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat casually suggested at a book launch in Nagpur that leaders should “step aside at 75.” It sounded philosophical, until you are reminded that both Bhagwat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi turn 75 this year, just days apart.
Congress was quick to react, calling it a direct swipe at Modi. “Both of you pick up your bags and go guide each other,” Pawan Khera joked. The BJP tried to calm things down, saying it was a general principle, not aimed at any one person. But everyone knows timing speaks louder than disclaimers.
With Bhagwat apparently ready to retire, it’s a good time to revisit some of the most controversial and widely debated remarks he’s made over the years.
“India’s true independence came after the Ram Temple consecration” (January 2025)
In early 2025, speaking at an event in Madhya Pradesh, Bhagwat said the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya marked the beginning of India’s “true independence.” He proposed that the day be celebrated annually as "Pratishtha Dwadashi." Critics, including Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), accused him of dismissing the significance of 1947 and undermining the legacy of freedom fighters. Rahul Gandhi called it “treason.”
“Rapes happen in India, not Bharat” (2013)
Back in 2013, Bhagwat stirred outrage by claiming that rapes occurred mostly in “India”, meaning urban, Westernised parts, and not in “Bharat,” which he described as traditional and moral. The backlash was immediate. Critics pointed out that sexual violence occurs across rural and urban areas and accused him of excusing serious crimes by romanticising rural life.
Mother Teresa had a “conversion agenda” (2015)
At a public function near Bharatpur in 2015, Bhagwat said that while Mother Teresa's charity work helped people, it also had the "objective of conversion." Many across the political and religious spectrum condemned the remarks, calling them an unnecessary attack on a globally respected humanitarian. Parliament briefly paused as MPs protested the statement.
“Everyone born in India is a Hindu” (2017)
In 2017, at a rally in Madhya Pradesh, Bhagwat stated that everyone born in India is a Hindu by birth. He clarified that this didn’t refer to religious belief but to cultural identity. Still, many religious minorities took offence, accusing him of pushing a one-size-fits-all idea of national identity.
That retirement dig, again (2025)
And back to the present. Bhagwat’s suggestion that people should “step aside at 75” has added fuel to speculation about a political transition within the BJP. Some see it as a gentle nudge to Modi; others call it a reflection of RSS’s long-standing age philosophy. Either way, it hit at just the right time to get the country talking.
From redefining independence to questioning religious icons and offering unsolicited retirement advice, nothing has stopped the former RSS chief from making bold statements. Now, as he prepares to leave the stage, his remarks will echo long after he’s gone, be it as a legacy, a controversy, or conversation starters.
