PM Modi makes historic visit to RSS headquarters in Nagpur

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Dr Hedgewar Smriti Mandir in Nagpur, Maharashtra and paid tributes at memorials dedicated to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and its second chief MS Golwalkar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur is historic as no Prime Minister has visited the place before.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was also present during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the Smriti Mandir at Nagpur’s Reshimbagh. It is the administrative headquarters of the organisation, which is planning to celebrate 100 years of its establishment.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit coincides with the Sangh’s Pratipada event, which marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year i.e. Gudi Padwa. He also paid tribute to BR Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi, where the architect of India’s Constitution embraced Buddhism along with thousands of his followers in 1956.

PM Modi in Nagpur

• According to the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre in Nagpur and address a public meeting.
• At around 12:30 pm, PM Modi will inaugurate the Loitering Munition Testing Range and Runway Facility for UAVs at Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited.
• Later, he will lay the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, a new extension building of Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute and Research Centre, a premier super-speciality ophthalmic care facility located in Nagpur.
• Prime Minister Modi will also visit the ammunition facility of Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, where he will inaugurate the newly constructed 1250 m long and 25 m wide runway for unarmed aerial vehicles (UAVs) as well as the live munition and warhead test facility built to test loitering munitions and other guided munitions.
• RSS ideologues have welcomed the visit and rejected allegations of rift between the Sangh leadership and the Prime Minister. A member, Seshadri Chary, said this would be the first time PM Modi would visit the Smriti Mandir after becoming the Prime Minister.
• In Chhattisgarh, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone, launch work and dedicate to the nation several development projects related to power, oil and gas, rail, road, education and housing sectors worth over Rs 33,700 crore in Bilaspur, the Prime Minister’s Office said.