Modi slams Cong for questioning Bharat Ratna award to ‘Bhupen da’

Guwahati:PM Narendra Modi on Sunday criticised Congress for “insulting” music maestro and Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika, recalling a remark made by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in 2019, where he had questioned conferring of the highest civilian award to the singer.Addressing a public rally in Assam’s Darrang district, the PM said that while he could tolerate abuses directed at him, but not at “Bhupen Da.”“No matter how much you abuse me, I am a devotee of Lord Shiva, I swallow all the poison. But when someone else is insulted, I cannot tolerate that,” Modi said.Asking the people, who had gathered at the rally, if his decision to honour “Bhupen Da” with Bharat Ratna was right or wrong, the PM said, “Is the insult by Congress party for honouring him with Bharat Ratna right or wrong?” he asked, while adding that he was deeply hurt by the Congress chief’s remark.“We have already celebrated the birthday of Bharat Ratna Sudhakantha Bhupen Hazarika Ji. On Saturday, I got the opportunity to be part of a very big programme organised in his honour. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma showed me a video of the Congress president and I was deeply hurt after seeing this. The day the Govt of India gave Bharat Ratna to the great son of this country, the pride of Assam, Bhupen Hazarika Ji, the Congress president said that Modi is giving Bharat Ratna to dancers and singers.”Back in 2019, when the Narendra Modi-led govt had conferred the Bharat Ratna to Bhupen Hazarika, Mallikarjun Kharge had questioned the decision, demanding the honour for Shivakumara Swami, an iconic Lingayat seer. Kharge alleged that the central govt had awarded a singer and a man who had propagated the RSS’ ideology.The PM said that by awarding the Bharat Ratna to “Bhupen Da” in 2019, the govt recognised the aspirations and pride of the northeast, making the region a national priority.