Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, September 14, criticized the Congress party for “insulting” the esteemed singer Bhupen Hazarika in 2019, emphasizing his ability to withstand personal attacks while condemning disrespect towards others. Speaking at a public event in Assam’s Darrang district, Modi remarked that although the Opposition may direct abuses at him, he is devoted to Lord Shiva and is capable of enduring adversity.
Modi stated, “Mujhe kitne hi gaaliya de, main bhagwan Shiv ka bhakt hoon, saara zehar nigal leta hoon” [No matter how much you abuse me, I am a devotee of Lord Shiva, I swallow all the poison]. He emphasized, however, that he cannot tolerate insults aimed at others, specifically referencing Bhupen Hazarika.
The Prime Minister addressed remarks made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in 2019 questioning the awarding of the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, to Hazarika instead of the late spiritual leader Dr. Shivakumara Swami from Karnataka. Modi asserted that he could accept insults directed at himself but not those directed at Hazarika, known affectionately as ‘Bhupen Da.’
He posed a rhetorical question to the audience: “Is my decision of honoring Bhupen Da with Bharat Ratna right or wrong? Is the insult done by the Congress party for honoring him with Bharat Ratna right or wrong?”
Modi expressed that he was “deeply hurt” by Kharge’s comments and criticized the suggestion that recognizing a singer with the Bharat Ratna was inappropriate. “We have already celebrated the birthday of Bharat Ratna Sudhakantha Bhupen Hazarika Ji. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to participate in a major program organized in his honor. The Chief Minister showed me a video of the Congress President, and I was deeply hurt after seeing this,” he explained.
He also recounted historical sentiments, noting that “the day the Government of India conferred the Bharat Ratna to the great son of this country, the pride of Assam, Bhupen Hazarika Ji,” Kharge alleged that Modi was giving such an honor to “dancers and singers.”
In reflecting on broader regional history, Modi stated, “After the war with China in 1962, what Pandit Nehru said, those wounds of the people of the North East have not been healed even today.”
In 2019, Kharge had questioned the central government’s decision, suggesting that Lingayat seer Shivakumara Swami should have received the Bharat Ratna instead. He said, “The government had seen his [Shivakumara Swami] work. Even then, the BJP government did not give him the award. This is sad. A singer and a man who propagated RSS ideology have also been awarded. If you compare all of them, then Shivakumara Swami Ji should have been given the award.”
