Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday objected to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that music composer Hridaynath Mangeshkar was sacked from All India Radio (AIR) for performing a poem on great freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. . Asked by a journalist whether the prime minister made the remarks ahead of the February 14 assembly elections in Goa, Raut said it was possible as the Mangeshkar family has roots in the coastal state. Raut said in a sarcastic tone, “It is possible. He is a great prime minister. I think no one has become the Prime Minister before him, nor will anyone after him.” Talking to reporters in Delhi, the Shiv Sena leader said, “I have a lot of respect for him (Modi). He is a great leader. I don’t want to comment on them. This happens in politics, whatever people say, we should understand.
Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday took a dig at the previous Congress governments in the Rajya Sabha, referring to the steps taken by them for allegedly suppressing freedom of expression. During this, he had accused music composer Hridaynath Mangeshkar, brother of vocal queen Lata Mangeshkar, of being sacked from All India Radio for presenting a poem on Savarkar. Raut on Thursday said that he had heard the song on All India Radio all his life, which made the song popular. Raut said in a sarcastic tone, “It is a tradition that a person holding a constitutional post should at least not lie. But I salute the Prime Minister.
Describing himself as a supporter of Savarkar, Raut said, “If a musician is fired for playing a particular song, that song will not be played on All India Radio for so many years. Why would they play it? I still listen to it on All India Radio and Doordarshan. We all hear it. This song lives in our hearts.” The Rajya Sabha MP also targeted Modi for his claim that Congress leaders stood at railway stations in Mumbai when people were following the lockdown and COVID-29 guidelines. were scaring the laborers so that they could go to their home states. Raut said, “What a lie you are telling. At least one BJP leader from Maharashtra should condemn this remark. Is this your love for Maharashtra?
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Assembly elections are underway in five states – Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. On Modi’s claim that there is a BJP wave in these states, Raut said, “It is a good thing, I wish him all the best.”