Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while paying tribute to Lata Mangeshkar in Parliament on Tuesday, recalled that the latter’s brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar was removed from All India Radio for airing a poem of Veer Savarkar during the Congress regime who today gives a call for “freedom of speech.”
“Lata Mangeshkar’s younger brother, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, a proud son of Goa. He was removed from All Indian Radio, where he used to work.
”What was his offence? He aired Veer Savarkar’s patriotic poem,” PM said.
The Prime Minister also shared instances of the treatment meted out to legendary singer Kishore Kumar and poet-lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri for their views against the Congress-led governments.
The prime minister also highlighted Congress’ behaviour towards freedom fighter Dharampal and former leader Sitaram Kesari who was sacked from the party.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi then continued, “Hridaynath ji said in an interview, which is still available, that he had told Veer Savarkar that he wished to perform the latter’s song. Savarkar replied, ‘Do you want to go to jail by singing my song?'” So he aired his song and within eight days, he was removed from AIR.”
Attacking the Congress party, PM said, “This was your freedom of expression. These are the kind of instances you have presented in front of the nation.”
PM Modi said, ”That is not all, Majrooh Sultanpuri was jailed for one year for criticising Pandit Nehru’s behaviour. Dharampal too was imprisoned.” He added, ”Popular music star Kishore Kumar too was sidelined for not agreeing to Indira Gandhi during the Emergency and not speaking in favour of the Emergency.”
PM Modi further stated, ”We all know what happened when even one person raised their voice against the Special Family, we all know what happened to Sitaram Kesari.”
