Image Credit: X account @CMOMaharashtra
PM Modi Visits RSS Headquarters for First Time Since Becoming Prime Minister
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur, marking his first visit since assuming office in 2014. The visit is being seen as symbolically significant, aligning with the centenary celebrations of the RSS and coinciding with the Maharashtrian New Year festival, Gudi Padwa.
Modi began his visit by paying homage at the Smruti Mandir, a memorial dedicated to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. He was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. In a handwritten note left at the memorial, the Prime Minister expressed deep reverence for Hedgewar and other Sangh leaders, calling the site a source of inspiration for countless volunteers committed to national service.
Later, while addressing a public event after laying the foundation stone for the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, Modi described the RSS as a “banyan tree” representing India’s timeless culture and ongoing modernization. He praised the organization for its commitment to protecting the country’s consciousness through its ideals and disciplined structure.
This visit holds historical significance, as Modi becomes only the second sitting Prime Minister to visit the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, following Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit during his third term in 2000.
In addition to his visit to the RSS premises, Modi also stopped at Deekshabhoomi, a key site of social reform where Dr. B.R. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956. This gesture is being viewed as an effort to reinforce the government’s message of social harmony and inclusion, particularly among Dalit and Buddhist communities.
The visit comes amid key political and cultural milestones and reflects Modi’s continued engagement with the ideological roots of the RSS, which has played a central role in shaping the trajectory of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
