New Delhi, August 28, 2025 — Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has categorically dismissed speculations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will step down after turning 75 in September 2025. Speaking on the last day of his three-day lecture series at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, Bhagwat clarified that neither he nor the RSS has ever supported any such age limit for leadership roles.
“I have never said that I will retire, nor have I ever said that someone else should retire after turning 75,” Bhagwat said. Interestingly, the RSS chief himself will turn 75 just a few days before Prime Minister Modi’s birthday.
‘RSS does not decide everything for BJP’
Mohan Bhagwat emphasised that the RSS does not control the BJP’s internal decisions, including the selection of the party leadership. Rejecting the widespread perception that the Sangh dictates the ruling party’s every move, he said, “The notion that the RSS decides everything for the BJP is completely wrong.”
He further explained that the RSS has no role in the selection of the BJP chief or day-to-day political strategies. Instead, he said the BJP, as a political organisation, functions independently while maintaining ideological alignment with the Sangh.
‘We don’t tell the government how to deal with Trump’
On international relations, especially the US-India trade tensions, Bhagwat made it clear that the RSS does not interfere in the government’s foreign policy decisions.
“We don’t tell the government how to deal with Trump. They know what to do, and we will support them,” he said.
His remarks came after former US President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on all Indian goods, which came into effect from August 27. Bhagwat indicated that the government’s response would be pragmatic and in India’s best interest.
Bhagwat questions opposition to English
In a departure from the RSS’s usual rhetoric, Bhagwat also questioned the criticism of the English language and subtly responded to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remarks.
“English is just a language. What’s the problem in learning the language?” Bhagwat asked, referring to his experience of reading English novels such as Oliver Twist and The Prisoner of Zenda during his school days.
His statement is being seen as a call for a balanced approach towards education and linguistic diversity, while also maintaining pride in Indian languages.
A broader message: India as Vishwaguru
During the lecture series, Bhagwat reiterated his vision of India as a “Vishwaguru” (world teacher). He urged citizens to embrace both cultural values and modern knowledge, and suggested that India’s strength lies in its ability to combine tradition and progress.