“PM Modi will continue to lead the country in future”: Amit Shah Dismisses Arvind Kejriwal's Claims of BJP's Retirement Tradition at 75

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday countered Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's assertion that he would become the next Prime Minister due to a supposed tradition of retiring at the age of 75 in the BJP. Shah dismissed these claims during a press conference in Hyderabad, affirming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will “complete his term” and “continue to lead the country in the future.”

"I want to say this to Arvind Kejriwal and company and INDI alliance that nothing as such is mentioned in BJP's constitution. You need not jump around thinking that PM Modi will retire once he turns 75. PM Modi is only going to complete this tenure and PM Modi will continue to lead the country in future. There is no confusion in BJP; you do not have to create any confusion either," said Amit Shah.

Earlier today, Arvind Kejriwal during his first public appearance since he was released from jail on an interim bail claimed that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to turn 75 next year, he was asking for votes to make Union Home Minister Amit Shah the next Prime Minister, underscoring a supposed tradition of leaders retiring at the age of 7 in the BJP folds.

“They (BJP) keep asking who will be the Prime Minister of the INDIA alliance, but, I want to ask BJP who will be their Prime Minister if the party comes back to power? You must be thinking that what is Kejriwal saying, off course it will be Narendra Modi, but, no. Next year on Septemvber 17, Modiji will turn 75. Back in 2014, Modiji himself made the rule to retire leaders when they turn 75. LK Advani, Manohar Joshi, Sumitra Mahajan, and Yashwant Sinha were all retired. Now, its PM Modi’s turn to retire on September 17 next year,” said Kejriwal highlighting BJP’s longstanding tradition of retiring leaders once they turn 75. “If BJP comes back to power, they will first dispose Yogiji (Yogi Adityanath), and then they will make Modiji’s favourite Amit Shah the next Prime Minister of the country. PM Modi is asking for votes, not for himself but to make Amit Shah the next Prime Minister…Will Amit Shah fulfill all of Modi’s guarantees?” he added.

After spending 50 days in jail, Arvind Kejriwal was released on Friday after the Supreme Court granted him an interim bail so that he can campaign for the Lok Sabha election in Delhi, slated to take place on May 25. The apex court has directed Kejriwal to return back to jail by June 2.