PM Narendra Modi's historic visit to the RSS founder's memorial in Nagpur and hailing the Sangh as "Banyan Tree" of India's immortal culture is being seen as an attempt to send a signal that all is well between the BJP and RSS.
This was the first visit by Modi as PM to RSS Smruti Mandir in Nagpur and the second by any prime minister. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited it in 2000 during his third term as PM.
After his arrival early in the morning, Modi visited the Hedgewar Smruti Mandir at the RSS headquarters and paid homage to the Sangh's founding fathers. Accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Modi paid floral tributes to KB Hedgewar and MS Golwalkar. Thereafter, he visited Deekshabhoomi, where Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in 1956. After visiting these two places, Modi laid the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre named after second head of the RSS, where he shared the stage with Bhagwat.
Modi's visit to Nagpur on the first day of the Hindu calendar is being closely watched in political quarters, especially after reports of a strain in BJP-RSS relations, which might be the reason for delay in the announcement of a new president of the ruling party. With both Modi and Bhagwat appearing to enjoy each other's company, this could ease the tension, if at all there was any, between the two.
In his speech, Modi glorified Sangh and mentioned the RSS' founders several times. After laying the foundation stone of a Sangh-backed eye hospital extension, Modi said RSS volunteers are working selflessly in various parts of the country. "RSS is the banyan tree of India's immortal culture and modernisation whose ideals and principles are to protect the national consciousness," Modi said. He said RSS is a light that dispels darkness.
Modi said the 'tapasya' of RSS in the last 100 years is bearing fruits as the country approaches its target of 'Viksit Bharat' in 2047.
This was the first visit by Modi as PM to RSS Smruti Mandir in Nagpur and the second by any prime minister. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited it in 2000 during his third term as PM.
After his arrival early in the morning, Modi visited the Hedgewar Smruti Mandir at the RSS headquarters and paid homage to the Sangh's founding fathers. Accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Modi paid floral tributes to KB Hedgewar and MS Golwalkar. Thereafter, he visited Deekshabhoomi, where Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in 1956. After visiting these two places, Modi laid the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre named after second head of the RSS, where he shared the stage with Bhagwat.
Modi's visit to Nagpur on the first day of the Hindu calendar is being closely watched in political quarters, especially after reports of a strain in BJP-RSS relations, which might be the reason for delay in the announcement of a new president of the ruling party. With both Modi and Bhagwat appearing to enjoy each other's company, this could ease the tension, if at all there was any, between the two.
In his speech, Modi glorified Sangh and mentioned the RSS' founders several times. After laying the foundation stone of a Sangh-backed eye hospital extension, Modi said RSS volunteers are working selflessly in various parts of the country. "RSS is the banyan tree of India's immortal culture and modernisation whose ideals and principles are to protect the national consciousness," Modi said. He said RSS is a light that dispels darkness.
Modi said the 'tapasya' of RSS in the last 100 years is bearing fruits as the country approaches its target of 'Viksit Bharat' in 2047.
