PM Modi addressed the nation today via his monthly radio broadcast, Mann Ki Baat where he talked about the recent ban on e-cigarettes, and the upcoming festive season among other things. The episode also featured “a special guest” singer Lata Mangeshkar who celebrated 90th birthday on Saturday.

PM Modi’s conversation with Lata Mangeshkar was pre-recorded since PM Modi was still travelling during her birthday.

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I have a very special guest joining us today during #MannKiBaat.

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Do tune in at 11 AM. https://t.co/q7opGHNnoT

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 29, 2019

“Pranaam, I called because I will be travelling on your birthday. I thought before leaving I should wish you and congratulate you. I wish you good health and may your blessings be on us. I pray.”

“People get old with age. But it’s always good to get blessings from those who become big through their great work,” Lata Mangeshkar replied.

“Aapke aane se Bharat ka chitra badal raha hai…Mujhe bahut khushi hoti hai… (India’s image is changing because of you…. This gives me immense happiness).”

PM Modi also had a conversation about Mangeshkar’s Gujarati connect and said “I was so happy when you told me your mother was a Gujarati. I feel so happy each time I meet you and you offer me Gujarati delicacies,” he said. He also heaped praises on Mangeshkar for her humility, which he said has “inspired generations.”

Talking about ill-effects of tobacco consumption, “We all know that addiction to tobacco is extremely harmful for health and it becomes very difficult to get out of this addiction. People who consume tobacco are vulnerable to diseases like cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, etc. There is very little awareness among people about e-cigarettes. They are completely unaware of its dangers and for this reason sometimes e-cigarettes find their way into homes out of curiosity.”

Modi also lauded Blessed Mariam Thresia in his programme. “It is a matter of pride for every Indian that on October 13, His Holiness Pope Francis will declare Sister Mariam Thresia (founder of the Congregation of the Holy Family) a saint. I pay my tributes to Sister Thresia.”

PM Modi reiterated his stand on single-use plastics from his previous Mann Ki Baat episode and said, “It is a matter of pride, not only for India but for the entire world today, while we are celebrating Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, our 130 crore countrymen have pledged to rid the nation from the menace of Single Use Plastic.”