NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed JD(U) MP Harivansh’s election as Rajya Sabha deputy chairman and recalled how the journalist-turned-politician was the first to bring the heroic deed of ‘Mountain Man’ Dashrath Manjhi to light.

“Very few will be aware but it was Harivanshji who first wrote about Dashrath Manjhi after which others followed,” the PM said while addressing Rajya Sabha after Harivansh was elected deputy chairman.

Modi said in a lighter vein, “Ab sub kuch Hari bharose. Aur mujhe vishwas hai ke sabhi, idhar ho ya udhar, sabhi saansadon per Hari kripa bani rahegi (everything is now in the hands of Hari or god. And I am confident that every member, whether on this side or that, will have his blessing).”

Stating that the country was celebrating the anniversary of the Quit India Movement on Thursday, Modi said Harivansh hailed from Ballia, aplace linked with the freedom struggle right from the first war of independence in 1857.

Modi recalled his tenure in the PMO under former PM Chandrashekhar. “Working closely with Chandrashekharji, Harivanshji knew in advance that Chandrashekharji would resign. However, he did not let his own newspaper have access to this news,” Modi said, adding that this showed his commitment to ethics and public service. Harivansh was chief editor of Hindi daily ‘Prabhat Khabar’ at that time.

