Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur on Sunday, marking his first visit since assuming office in 2014. He became the second sitting prime minister to visit the RSS headquarters, following Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit in 2000 during his third term.
During his visit, PM Modi described the RSS as the “banyan tree” of India’s immortal culture and modernisation, praising its volunteers for their selfless service across the country. He paid homage at the Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir, dedicated to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and the organisation’s second chief M.S. Golwalkar.
PM Modi’s Message at RSS Headquarters
PM Modi emphasized the significance of the RSS in shaping India’s national consciousness and development. He acknowledged the organisation’s century-long journey, stating that the period from 2025 to 2047 would be crucial in laying the foundation for a strong and developed India.
“The RSS’s dedication and commitment to national service over the last 100 years is now bearing fruit as India moves towards becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047,” PM Modi said.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari accompanied the prime minister during his visit. Bhagwat highlighted the RSS’s role in community service, particularly in healthcare initiatives like Madhav Netralaya, an eye hospital that PM Modi also visited.
PM Modi Pays Tribute at Deekshabhoomi
Following his visit to the RSS headquarters, PM Modi paid tribute at Deekshabhoomi, a historic site where Dr B.R. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in 1956.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to Ambedkar’s vision of social justice, stating that building a developed and inclusive Bharat would be the true tribute to the architect of India’s Constitution. PM Modi visited the stupa at Deekshabhoomi and paid homage to Dr Ambedkar’s asthi (mortal remains) kept there.
“Deekshabhoomi is a symbol of social justice and empowerment of the downtrodden. This holy site inspires us to uphold equality and justice,” PM Modi wrote in the visitors’ diary.
Visit to Defence Facility in Nagpur
Later in the day, PM Modi visited Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited’s ammunition facility in Nagpur. He inaugurated an airstrip for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and a testing facility for loitering munition, highlighting India’s progress in indigenous defence manufacturing.
Sources By Agencies