March 30, 2025 will be a major milestone for RSS and for Nagpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has travelled to the RSS headquarters, he is the first sitting Prime Minister to travel headquarters in Nagpur. Modi, along with RSS's head, Mohan Bhagwat and other heads has paid floral tributes honoring the RSS founder, Dr. Hedgewar on his birthday, 30th March (Sunday). The Prime Minister, Modi was a pracharak of the RSS and travelled throughout the country to promote the RSS philosophy, and this is why is the most nationalistic socio-cultural organization in India, and RSS Shakhs have taught and popularised many parts of Bharat. After around 30 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making this journey to the headquarters and it is the first visit by any Prime Minister in over the last 3 decades, Political analysts are giving several forms of meaning to the high-profile trip to Nagpur to the Prime Minister.
It is not a routine and official and formal visit to RSS headquarters however it is very important politically and also as regards the ties of BJP and RSS. Strong security arrangements that is foolproof security arrangements have been made for Modi's visit to Nagpur. Nagpur has been dressed up in its baghwa/saffron flags like a bride and life size cutouts of Narendra Modi have been placed at many locations and Nagpur has assumed festive look. The visit of Narendra Modi coincides with the festival of Gudi Padva which signifies the first day of the new year. In fact, Modi has now timed his visit to Nagpur in relation to Gudi Padva which is coincides with the first Chaitra Navratra, and on the first day of the Hindu new year. Different political commentators attach different meanings to PM Modi's visit to Nagpur. In fact the visit of PM Modi to Nagpur will strengthen the ties between on the political aspect between BJP and RSS and on the Government side between RSS and Government.
There much excitement and celebration in and around the RSS headquarters about the prime minister's visit. The RSS Volunteers in general and Nagpurians in particular where anxiously and excitedly awaiting the visit of PM Modi in Nagpur. There have been all preparative measures taken for Modi's successful visit to Nagpur. Modi's visit is also significant because there had been some social tensions recently in Nagpur over the grave of the foreign invader and Mughal King, Aurangzeb because all Hindu and nationalist organizations were demanding for the grave of this cruel ruler that had completely ruined the lives of Hindus in his time to be dug up.
The first-ever visit of a Prime Minister to RSS headquarters has significant importance and comes in the backdrop of tensions and some not very cordial relations between Sangh and the BJP/Modi government. It is pertinent to mention that in the run-up of 2024 parliamentary elections, BJP president J.P. Nadda has said that the BJP is very strong and does not need any support from RSS. The remarks of the BJP president have not been taken lightly by the RSS, and also naturally so. Therefore, the visit of Modi to RSS headquarters be viewed as an attempt to repair the relations between BJP/Central government and RSS. However, the visit of Modi is also significant because a new president of the BJP is going to be elected, and many people are slated to vie for this important organizational position, RSS wishing for Sanjay Joshi to be instated as the BJP president. Therefore the visit of Modi at this juncture is significant.
Political analysts view an encounter as important because of the timing, location, and reason. Indeed, the visit comes as the BJP preps for the election of a new national president probably by early April, with a national council meeting in Bangaluru on April 18 to endorse that leadership. The RSS has a say in who the BJP chief will be, and is certainly a good sign that the meeting take place in Nagpur where the Sangh is based and the event is in honor of M.S Golwalkar idolized as 'Guruji' by the RSS. The meeting between Prime Minister Modi and the Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat is also their first public appearance together since the Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya last year. The BJP is gearing up for innumerable state elections as well as the 2029 general elections, so this meeting is of great relevance and being scrutinized as it would without doubt have an impact on the relationship between the BJP and the Sangh. Commenting on the Prime Minister's visit a "very important and historic" one, RSS member Seshadari Chari said, "People talk a lot about the relations between RSS and BJP, before also they talked about it - there is no difference.
PM Modi signed the visitors book after paying homage to RSS founder K.B. Hedgewar at RSS Smruti Mandir. PM Modi also paid his respects to Dr B.R Ambedkar at Deekshaboomi, where the late leader took buddism along with thousands of followers in 1956. The present BJP president JP Nadda has been on a prolonged term since being inducted to the union cabinet on June 2024. Interestingly, RSS traditionally has had an important and dominant role in choosing BJP presidents and there may have been a conversation in Nagpur on the leadership transition, with 2029 Lok Sabha elections coming up. Earlier PM Modi was received at Nagpur airport by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and union minister Nitin Gadkari.
The timing and setting of the visit gives it added weight with big political events looming. What makes this meeting between the two important, is that this is their first meeting at the RSS headquarters. The last time PM Modi and Mohan Bhagwat had a one-on-one meeting was in May 10, 2014 in Delhi, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. PM Modi and Mohan Bhagwat were joined on the stage by Maharashtra CM Fadnavis, Union minister Gadkari, Acharaya Govind giri Maharaj and other noted guests. What is more interesting timing for the meeting, is the plans for the RSS centenary celebrations, which are set to begin on Vijayadashami this October. To sum up the visit of PM Modi to Nagpur and meeting with the RSS chief will be to the BJP's advantage, to its government and to the benefit of the RSS itself so the visit to Nagpur & meeting between Modi and Bhagwat is historic.
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