Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014 decision to relegate veteran BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Jaswant Singh to the Margdarshak Mandal, citing a 75-year retirement rule, has come back to haunt him. The leaders were effectively silenced by Modi, and their counsel was never sought on policy issues.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement at a recent book release function to honour late RSS leader Moropant Pingle that leaders should step down when they reach the age of 75 is being seen as a signal to Modi. Both Bhagwat and Modi turn 75 in September this year.

While the Opposition was quick to latch on to Bhagwat’s statement, saying that it was a clear snub to Modi, the BJP and the RSS brushed off the comment, saying too much was being read........

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