Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid floral tribute to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir in Nagpur. This visit has been described as a ”very important and historic” visit by the senior Sangh leaders. As per a report by ANI, this is the first time PM Modi has visited the RSS memorial since taking charge of the office in 2014.
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, along with other BJP leaders, have joined PM Modi during this trip. Modi’s visit started early morning after state officials welcomed him at the Nagpur airport.
RSS leaders hail PM Modi’s historic visit
The visit aligns with the centenary year of the RSS. Describing it as historic, RSS ideologue Ashutosh Adoni stated to ANI, ‘’This is a very important and historic visit. It is historic because a volunteer, who is today in the post of Prime Minister of India, is coming to Smruti Mandir on such a special day.’’
RSS Member Seshadri Chari also expressed the same sentiment, adding, ”This will be the first time he will be going there after becoming the PM…The government’s job is to make India a strong country, a Viksit Bharat.”
He also rejected speculation of ideological differences between the RSS and the BJP, stating, ”There is no difference in opinion between the BJP and the RSS… these are politically motivated narratives,” as quoted by ANI.
PM Modi pays tribute at Deekshabhoomi, launches major projects
After paying tribute at Smruti Mandir, PM Modi also visited Deekshabhoomi to pay honour to BR Ambedkar. Later in the day, he laid a foundation stone for the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, which is an extension of an eye care hospital.
PM Modi then launched major infrastructure at Solar Defense and Aerospace Limited, including a testing range for loitering munitions and a 1250-meter-long runway for UAVs.
He is also scheduled to head towards Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, to inaugurate projects over Rs 33,700 crores in fields like railways, education, power, and infrastructure, as per the Prime Minister’s Office.
(With inputs from ANI)