"Lata Mangeshkar's Brother Fired In 8 Days...": PM's Swipe At Congress

As part of his fierce attacks today, Prime Minister Modi also said "talent is the first casualty of dynastic politics" and listed how the country would have been different "if Congress had not there".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday renewed his attack on the Congress, citing the dismissal of Hridaynath Mangeshkar, the brother of iconic late singer Lata Mangeshkar, from All India Radio to accuse the opposition party of stifling freedom of expression - a charge frequently levelled against his government

"Today India is sad because of the demise of Lata Mangeshkarji... but let me tell you that during Congress' rule in Goa, her younger brother, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, was removed from All India Radio in eight days as he recited some verses from Veer Savarkar's poem," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister - who tore into the Congress yesterday as well, launching a litany of barbs and accusations ahead of elections in five states this month - also pointed to legendary lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri who, he said, had been sent to jail in 1949 for criticising late former PM Jawaharlal Nehru.

PM Modi also referred to famed singer Kishore Kumar, who "did not bow to Indira Gandhi during the Emergency and was banned from singing on the radio".