Will 75-year retirement rule apply to PM? Arvind Kejriwal’s poser to RSS targets BJP

AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday used the RSS to launch a scathing attack on the ruling BJP by asking Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat whether the rule of retirement from politics at 75 would apply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The former Delhi CM, in five pointed questions to the RSS, also questioned Sangh’s ability to keep tabs on the BJP by referring to the purported remarks by party president JP Nadda that they did not need their ideological mentor.

Modi bringing down govts

The way Modi is breaking parties and bringing down governments across the country by luring them or threatening them with the ED and CBI — is this correct? Arvind Kejriwal, AAP Leader

The AAP chief’s new line of approach to target political opponents comes days after he was released from the Tihar Jail in the excise policy case.

“The RSS and BJP have made the rule that leaders must retire at 75. LK Advani was made to retire, and prominent leaders such as Murli Manohar Joshi and Kalraj Mishra were also forced to step down. Now, Home Minister Amit Shah says this rule will not apply to Modi. Do you (RSS) agree with this?” said Kejriwal at his first ‘Janta ki Adalat’ public meeting here.

While campaigning for the Lok Sabha poll in May, Kejriwal had claimed Modi would retire next year when he turns 75 and Shah would take over. BJP leaders had then denied any such age cap.

Referring to Health Minister JP Nadda’s remark, the AAP chief said: “Has the son (BJP) become so big that it is showing attitude to its mother (RSS)? Didn’t you feel sad when he said this?”

Kejriwal further asked Bhagwat whether it was justified to use central agencies such as the ED and CBI to target the opposition. “The way Modi is breaking parties and bringing down governments across the country by either luring them or threatening them with the ED and CBI — is this correct?” he said.

The former Delhi CM also criticised the BJP for inducting leaders into the party who had previously been labelled corrupt by the PM. “Modi has included the most corrupt leaders in his party, whom he himself called corrupt. Do you agree with such politics?” Kejriwal said.

“The BJP was born from the womb of the RSS, it is the responsibility of the RSS to ensure that the BJP does not go astray. Have you ever stopped Modi from doing wrong things?” the AAP leader added.