Babbu Mann questions Lala Lajpat Rai’s martyrdom

Spicezee Bureau

Mumbai: While performing at a concert in UK recently, popular Punjabi singer-actor Babbu Mann sparked a controversy by doubting the martyrdom of legendary freedom fighter Lal Lajpat Rai. Mann has infuriated the activists of a youth club at Rai`s birth place, who have demanded stern action against the singer, according to reports. “Apart from being an insult to the freedom fighter`s martyrdom, it has put a big question mark over the whole freedom movement and sacrifices of all freedom fighters,” Lala Lajpat Rai youth and welfare club president Jasdeep Singh told a news daily. Our source reveals that Lala Lajpat Rai committee, residents of his village and other club members have demanded that the singer should be booked for anti-national activities. Although Mann was not available for comment, sources close to him maintained that he had no intentions of denigrating any patriot’s sacrifice, and rather praise the freedom fighters through his songs. "Mann has not scripted the lines, but has picked up a reference from "Sachi Sakhi", a book by Kapoor Singh (ICS). There is mention of Rai on pages 63-64 in the book`s 1993 edition published by SGPC and a foreword by late Gurcharan Singh Tohra. If anybody`s feelings have been hurt, he is sorry," said a source.