PM Modi Hails Savarkar’s ‘Sacrifice’, NTR’s ‘Indelible Mark' in Cinema On Mann Ki Baat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N T Rama Rao on the occasion of their birth anniversaries.

Paying homage to Savarkar on his birth anniversary during the 'Mann ki Baat' broadcast, PM Modi said Savarkar's sacrifice, courage and determination continue to inspire us.

"Today the 28th of May, is the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter, Veer Savarkar. The stories related to his sacrifice, courage and resolve inspire us all even today. I cannot forget the day when I went to the cell in Andaman where Veer Savarkar underwent the sentence of Kalapani.

Veer Savarkar's personality comprised firmness and magnanimity. His fearless and self-respecting nature did not appreciate the mentality of slavery at all. Not only the freedom movement, whatever Veer Savarkar did for social equality and social justice is remembered even today," he said in the 101st edition of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' today

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and several Union ministers and MPs paid floral tributes to Savarkar in the Central Hall of the old Parliament building.

Talking about N T Rama Rao, the Prime Minister said that he left an indelible mark through the strength of his amazing talent in politics and the film industry.

"The name of this great personality is N T Rama Rao, whom we all know as NTR. Today, is the 100th birth anniversary of NTR. On the strength of his versatility of talent, he not only became the superstar of Telugu cinema, but also won the hearts of crores of people. Do you know that he had acted in more than 300 films? He revived many historical characters on the basis of his acting. People liked NTR's acting in the roles of Bhagwan Krishna, Ram and many others, so much that they still remember him," he stated.

NTR had carved out his own identity in the cinema world as well as in politics, the Prime Minister added. There too, he got lots of love and blessings from the people. I offer my humble tribute to N T Rama Rao ji, who ruled the hearts of millions of people in the country and the world," he concluded.