Age no bar so long as capable leaders with credibility run the country: Ram Madhav at OLF

BHUBANESWAR: With a debate taking shape on the merit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi continuing in active politics even after attaining 75 years of age and the post-Modi era, strategic thinker, author and former national general secretary of BJP Ram Madhav said age should not be a barrier so long as the leaders are capable with credibility.Those who are capable and run the country efficiently should continue. In a country as diverse as India, you need a person with experience and credibility. He is doing an excellent job. I would not say that people over 75 years of age should quit politics and go away,” was Madhav’s cryptic reply.

Citing the example of ex-President of USA Ronald Reagan, the author said his young opponent questioned the former’s ability to run for the presidency during the 1979 election because of his old age. Reagan said his job is to exploit the talents of the youth of the country. With the prime minister always being in a hurry to achieve his goals, MadCiting the example of China, Madhav said, two decades ago the leaders of the country decided to push everything to be where they are today. There was no ‘ifs and buts’.

“The prime minister set out his goals from the ramparts of the Red Fort. He is pushing the country fast to achieve them. He cannot achieve his mission alone. It requires a whole-of-the-nation approach. The positive outcome of Modi’s approach is that now states have been setting targets to become trillion dollar economy,” he said.

“We have the ability, capability and the strength to build a strong economy, robust security and a dignified India. We have to be practical.

In a conversation with senior journalist Kaveree Bamzai on ‘Hindutva Paradigm: A new definition’ at the concluding day of the Odisha Literary Festival-2025 here on Sunday, Madhav said Modi is the leader of the whole country and he is leading it in a visionary way.