What Mohan Bhagwat Said About Selecting BJP President; PM Modi’s Trip To Japan And China; And More

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‘Wouldn’t Have Taken So Much Time’ If We Were Deciding Everything: Mohan Bhagwat On Whether BJP Presidential Election Delayed Due To RSS 

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed several contentious topics during his August 28, address to a conclave marking the organization's centenary.

RSS-BJP Relationship

Dismissing reports of disputes, Bhagwat clarified that there is no conflict between the Sangh and BJP. He emphasized the RSS's broader approach, stating "We help everyone, not just the BJP, if they need our assistance in doing good work." Regarding perceptions of RSS control over BJP decisions, he noted that if the Sangh had been deciding everything, "it wouldn't have taken so much time" - referring to recent BJP presidential elections.

Age and Retirement

Addressing previous interpretations of his comments on age limits in politics, Bhagwat clarified: "Maine kabhi nahin kaha ki kisi ko retire hona chahiye” (I never said that anyone should retire).

Family Size

Bhagwat elaborated on his views about ideal family size, stating "Having three children is important. In families with three children, they learn to manage ego and interpersonal dynamics." He referenced India's official population policy target of 2.1 children per family, noting "Since 0.1 child is not possible, this effectively means three." While acknowledging economic challenges and population pressures, he emphasized: "Families should have three children but no more."

PM Modi On Four-Day Japan, China Visit Starting Today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a crucial four-day diplomatic tour to Japan and China today. The visit comes amid escalating trade tensions with America. 

PM Modi will first visit Japan from August 29-30 at Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba's invitation for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. This marks Modi's eighth Japan visit and his first summit with Ishiba.

From Japan, he will travel to China on August 31-September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin at President Xi Jinping's invitation. The two leaders may even hold bilateral talks on August 31.

The SCO gathering includes 10 member nations alongside India and China. 

PM Modi is also expected to hold sideline meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Central Asian leaders during the summit.

Other developments

Import Duty Exemption On Cotton Extended Till End Of Year

A Government Order released Thursday extended import duty exemption on cotton through December 31. This move is expected to provide support to the Indian garment industry amid increased U.S. tariffs. 

The order comes a day after 50 per cent tariffs on Indian good to the US came into effect.

India originally waived the 11 per cent import duty until September but extended the relief. 

The United States is the largest export market for India’s garments and jewelry sectors. 

Ties Seeking Normalcy? India Appoints New High Commissioner To Canada 

The Government of India has appointed Dinesh K Patnaik, a 1990-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, as the country's next High Commissioner to Canada, according to a Ministry of External Affairs notification.

Patnaik, currently serving as India's Ambassador to Spain, will assume his new role soon, filling a position that has remained vacant since October 2024.

India had withdrawn its envoy to Canada following serious allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, in Canada.

The diplomatic crisis erupted when Trudeau claimed Indian involvement in Nijjar's killing on Canadian soil. The dispute has strained bilateral relations, with both countries taking reciprocal diplomatic actions.

Patnaik's appointment signals a potential step toward normalizing diplomatic engagement between India and Canada, though underlying issues surrounding the Nijjar case continue to affect bilateral ties.

From the states

BJP, Allies Demand Apology After Derogatory Remarks Against PM Modi

The BJP and its allies launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi and Congress Thursday following derogatory comments made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, involving his mother, by Congress workers at a Bihar rally.

The controversy erupted when Congress workers used abusive language from a stage displaying posters of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Tejashwi Yadav. The leaders were not present on the stage during the incident.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis questioned Gandhi's credentials as a national leader, while UP CM Yogi Adityanath called the remarks "highly condemnable" and insulting to 140 crore Indians.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan blamed RJD, calling such behavior their "tradition" that has "defamed Bihar since the 1990s."

Congress distanced itself from the controversy, with leader Pawan Khera calling it a BJP "diversion tactic," while Rashid Alvi condemned the language used.

Karnataka: Deputy CM DK Shivakumar Gets Royal Rebuke

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar’s recent remark that the Chamundeshwari temple was not the property of Hindus has been drawing widespread condemnation. The latest luminary to push back against it is the mother of the ‘Maharaja’ and MP of Mysuru. Yaduveer Wadiyar’s mother, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar. 

In a post on X, she said: "The Karnataka government's proposed Dasara celebrations this year, especially the politics surrounding the holy Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hills, are deeply disturbing. The selection of dignitaries invited to inaugurate this year’s Naada festival (Janata Dasara) has led to differences of opinion, and it is unnecessary to justify this by saying that the Chamundeshwari Temple does not belong to the Hindu religion. Although the temple is worshipped according to Hindu religious customs, people of other religions have always been allowed to enter the temple and still do. If it was not a Hindu temple, it would never have been brought under the Muzrai Department." 

Till the time of writing, the Karnataka government had not responded to Pramoda Devi Wadiyar’s post. 

‘When Did Stalin Become Ayyappa Devotee’, Asks Rajeev Chandrasekhar As Tamil Nadu CM Is Invited For Ayyappa Sangamam

BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday criticised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the state government’s plan to hold a Global Ayyappa Sangamam in Sabarimala on 20 September. Calling it a “political drama” ahead of elections, Chandrasekhar questioned why Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin was invited, alleging that both Stalin and Vijayan had shown hostility towards Hindu traditions. “Why was MK Stalin invited to the Sangamam? When did Stalin become an Ayyappa devotee? This is politics. That’s how people see it. This is a political drama when there are only four months left for the assembly elections”, he said. 

He accused the Travancore Devaswom Board of failing to provide basic facilities for devotees while now seeking to organise a grand event. 

Kerala CM Vijayan had earlier rejected the BJP’s charge, saying the Sangamam was a Devaswom event and should not be politicised.

You’re all caught up—until next time.