Nageswara Rao, the ex-chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has launched a political party focused on the preservation of temples and pilgrimage sites as vital centers of civilization. This initiative is part of a broader aim to promote equality among all Indians.
“True secularism entails equal treatment for all. Only by ensuring education, healthcare, and employment without caste biases, regional differences, or religious conflicts can we achieve genuine equality among Indians,” Rao stated in an interview with ThePrint.
The 1986-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from Odisha, who has served as the interim director of the CBI on two occasions, made this announcement in Kashi (Varanasi). Rao revealed that he had previously declined offers to enter active politics but decided to move forward this time at the urging of Avimukteshwaranand. “There is much work to be done in India. I chose to make my political debut from Kashi, which I consider the spiritual capital of India, contrasting with Delhi’s status as the political and administrative center,” he explained.
The party’s leadership includes notable figures such as national vice president Mahant Tirthanand, vice president Ritu Rathod, general secretary Raja Saksham Singh Yogi, spokesperson Babita Sharma, Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rakesh Tiwari, and organization minister Narnarayan Singh.
The party’s motto is “Modern India, with its Sanatan civilizational roots” (Satyasanatan, Nitya Noutan). Rao emphasized that the party’s goal is not to revert to the past but to create a contemporary India that is firmly grounded in its civilizational and constitutional heritage. “We cannot afford to be a nation that loses touch with its cultural identity,” he asserted.
The launch of this political party signifies a pivotal moment in both regional and national political landscapes, as it becomes the fifth party to emerge from the Telugu-speaking regions within just a few months. With a strong leader from Telangana and the backing of the Shankaracharya’s moral authority, the new party aims to disrupt traditional political alignments and field candidates in critical electoral regions, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand.
Identifying itself as a pro-civilization party, SSP is open to forming alliances with pro-Hindu groups in states slated for elections in 2027. Rao clarified that he will not run for any assembly or parliamentary seat but will serve as a mentor for the party. Additionally, he has been active in promoting Hindu culture and has authored a book titled ‘A Quiver Full of Arrows’.
