‘We Will See Him As PM Again In 2029: Devendra Fadnavis Rejects Sanjay Raut’s ‘PM Modi Retiring’ Claim (Screengrab) | X/ANI/PTI
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday responded Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s remark that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) would decide the successor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Fadnavis said that PM Modi would lead the country after the next parliamentary polls.
While responding to Raut, the Maharashtra CM said, “In 2029, we will see Narendra Modi as the prime minister again.” Fadnavis further added, “There is no need to search for his successor. He (Modi) is our leader and will continue.”
He stated that discussing succession while the leader is active is inappropriate in Indian culture, reported PTI. “In our culture, when the father is alive, it is inappropriate to talk about succession. That is Mughal culture. The time has not come to discuss it,” Fadnavis said.
Devendra Fadnavis’ Statement:
Senior RSS leader Suresh ‘Bhaiyyaji’ Joshi also rejected the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader’s claim. “I don’t have any such information,” Joshi said. “Yesterday’s programmes went well. We all are happy. His (Modi’s) interest in service was evident during the COVID period,” he further stated.
“I feel that his coming here yesterday and laying the foundation stone for Madhav Netralaya centre building has elevated the institute’s stature. Similarly, his visit as a swayamsevak (RSS volunteer) to Reshimbagh on the occasion of Sangh founder K B Hedgewar’s birth anniversary was very nice,” Joshi added.
What Sanjay Raut Said?
Earlier in the day, Raut claimed that PM Modi visited the RSS headquarters in Nagpur to discuss his retirement plans.
“PM Modi went to the RSS office (PM Modi’s visit to Nagpur) to announce his retirement. As per my knowledge, he has never visited the RSS headquarters in 10-11 years. RSS wants a change in leadership. PM Modi is now leaving,” Raut told reporters.
On Sunday, PM Modi visited the RSS headquarters In Nagpur. It was his first visit to the RSS headquarters after becoming the prime minister 11 years ago. He became the second sitting PM to visit the RSS headquarters in Nagpur. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited it in 2000, an RSS official said.
The PM visited Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir and paid tributes at the memorials dedicated to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and second sarsanghchalak (chief) MS Golwalkar.
