Gurugram: ‘Andha Tha Andh Bhakti Mein, Thokar Maine Khai, Mujhe Maaf Karna, Rahul Mere Bhai (I was a blind devotee, I stumbled. Please forgive me, Rahul, my brother).’ Thus sang Haryanvi singer-composer Jai Bhagwan Mittal aka Rocky Mittal seeking apology from the Gandhi scion, a few weeks after he severed ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following his disillusionment with the ruling party.
In his own words, Mittal claims to have sung over 200 songs eulogising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and over 20 for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the past 14 years. His Facebook cover still has an image of him with Modi. The songs, meanwhile, often belittled Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
So, why this change of heart for the 42-year-old artiste from Kaithal town of Haryana?
In a video widely shared on social media platform ‘X’, Mittal explained that he sang hundreds of songs against Rahul and used foul words but the Congress leader never took any action against him nor did he file any defamation suit against him. “And those for whom I roamed across the country singing paeans for 14 years, they put me in jail.”
"मुझे माफ़ करना राहुल मेरे भाई…"
BJP नेता Rocky Mittal ने माफी मांगते हुए कुछ इस अंदाज में Congress Join की.. pic.twitter.com/KAiVICHgeJ
— Srinivas BV (@srinivasiyc) August 28, 2024
Before he sang on the stage Sunday at Kaithal in the presence of the Congress’s Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, Mittal had a fallout with the BJP after years of association with the party.
Mittal, who once preferred to write his name as ‘Modi Bhakt singer Rocky Mittal’, was appointed publicity advisor by the then Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar in 2016. But, he was sacked from his post in less than a year in January 2017 after Mittal accused a senior IAS officer of splurging crores of rupees on an event in Gurugram.
However, in December that year, Mittal made a comeback to the Haryana CM’s office as the project director of a newly created cell only to be sacked again in December 2020. What drove a wedge between the two sides, according to him, was his arrest in March 2021 in a 6-year-old case and him going to jail.
“I never formally joined the BJP. Nor have I joined the Congress now. I was an Andh Bhakt (blind devotee) of Narendra Modi and whatever I did it was a result of my Andh Bhakti for Modi. I never joined a political party and I will never join any in the future. But I will support the Congress because I believe that Congress should come to power in Haryana this time for the larger good of the people,” Mittal told ThePrint over the phone.
“I have deleted most of the songs from YouTube out of guilt. Now, I have realised that I was spreading hatred and for those, who considered me a donkey to carry their luggage for free. However, several of my songs are still available on various social media platforms as many others posted them from their channels,” the singer said.
In his song titled ‘Narendra Modi Amritwani’ posted by a YouTube channel 10 years ago, the lyrics—written in the forms of Dohas (a form of Hindi poetry, typically written in a couplet form)—praises the politician from Gujarat. ‘Chauthi Baar CM Bane, Rach Dala Itihaas; 100 Mein Se 100 Numbero Se, Ho Gaye Modi Pass, Modi Ne Rach Daala Itihaas (Became Chief Minister for the fourth time, making history; Scored 100 out of 100 marks, Modi passed with flying colours, Modi made history).’
Another song, ‘Prime Minister Banega Narendra Modi’ compares Modi’s governance to the ideal reign of Lord Ram. ‘Ram Rajya Jaisa Hoga, Narendra Modi Ka Raaj; Saccha Sapoot Hain Narendra Modi, Bharat Maa Ki Awaaz (Narendra Modi’s rule will be like Ram Rajya; Modi is a true son, the voice of Mother India)’
As for Yogi Adityanath, Mittal’s song lauds the UP chief minister’s drive against corruption. ‘Sabko Dhool Chata, Yogi Aye Corruption Tod Ke (Yogi made everyone bite dust, breaking corruption)’
“I don’t even want to utter what filthy words I used for Rahul Gandhi in my songs. Today, I realise I did the most sinful thing by abusing a person as graceful as Rahul. I believe that if a person wrongs another person, he has the moral duty to apologise once he realises his mistake. This is the reason I made this song tendering apologies to Rahul,” Mittal told ThePrint.
“I want to clarify that I have not joined Congress. Nor will I join any other party now. But, I trust Congress is a better party and Rahul Gandhi is a much better person than those whom I served in the past. I wish Congress comes to power in the coming assembly elections and I will do whatever I can do for this,” he said.
Mittal said though he considered himself very close to Modi, he was never liked by the BJP dispensation in Haryana.
“When I wrote my name as Modi Bhakt Rocky Mittal, two of Khattar’s aide’s suggested that I should write my name as Manohar Bhakt Rocky Mittal because I was publicity adviser to the Haryana CM. However, I refused to do so. The first time I was removed it was because I ruffled the feathers of a senior IAS officer close to Khattar by raising the issue of splurging of crores of money for an event,” Mittal claimed.
“The second time I questioned Rs 1,500 crore spent on publicity by the government which I thought could have been done at Rs 500 crore. I was pained because this Rs 1,000 crore could have been utilised for modernising government schools.”
“I did bring the matter to the notice of the top leaders of the BJP and even met BJP president J.P. Nadda twice. He heard my grievances but nothing happened after that,” the singer-composer said.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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Mr. Rocky Mittal would absolutely love Mr. Rahul Gandhi when he treats him with his “famous” dog biscuits.
Mr. Himanta Sarma has had that experience and changed political affiliation soon after.