Dad deserves Bharat Ratna: Mohammed Rafi's son

Mumbai, Dec 24 (IANS) Legendary Bollywood playback singer Mohammed Rafi deserves the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, his son Shahid Rafi said on Thursday.

On Thursday, Congress leaders led by Mumbai unit president Sanjay Nirupam, vice president Jaiprakash Singh, minorities cell chief Nizamuddin Raeen and a large number of activists paid tributes to Rafi at his grave at the Juhu Tara Road cemetery on his 91st birth anniversary.

The Congress leaders also demanded that Rafi be conferred with the Bharat Ratna.

Asked about his views, Shahid said: "A family friend has taken an initiative on this, we are also trying politically... my dad should get Bharat Ratna, I think he deserves it."

On why Rafi has not been awarded it for so long, he said: "I don't know what is the reason behind this. It is decided by the government, I will just leave it to destiny whenever it comes we will take it."

Rafi took the Indian music industry by storm with his entry as a playback singer in 1941 and never looked back till his death in 1980 at the age of 55.