Madurai salon owner is talk of the town, post Mann ki Baat

During his Mann ki Baat programme on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned about how a man from Madurai, Mohan, who owns a salon spent his entire savings to help people in distress during the COVID-19 lockdown, despite the fact that his salon was closed for two months. Ever since then, people are continuously calling and visiting him to appreciate him.

Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Forty-six-year old C. Mohan's phone has been ringing continuously ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday mentioned about him in his 'Mann ki Baat' radio programme.

"I have lost count of the number of calls I have received. It could be over 250 calls," Mohan told media.

During his Mann ki Baat programme, Modi said that Mohan, who owns a salon in Madurai, had spent his entire savings to help people in distress during the COVID-19 lockdown.

"Shri Mohan Ji runs a salon in Madurai. Through sheer hard work, he had saved five lakh rupees for his daughter's education. But he spent the entire amount in the service of the needy and the underprivileged in these difficult times," Modi had said on Sunday.

According to Mohan, he had saved the amount for his daughter M. Nethra's education. She is now in the eighth standard.

"Originally, we were from Ramanathapuram district. We came to Madurai twenty years ago and set up the shop," Mohan said. He said it was Nethra who was very much moved by the people's distress during the lockdown and urged to help them.

Then Mohan dipped into his savings of Rs 5 lakh and donated essentials to about 600 families.

He did this despite the fact that his salon was closed for two months as part of COVID-19 lockdown and he had no income during that period.

According to him, the money could be saved later also but help the people in distress had to be rendered immediately.

On Monday, a steady stream of visitors - media and others - were at his home to wish him.

At a time when corporates are demanding the lenders to write off part of their loan/interest dues, Mohan's gesture is nothing but appreciable.

Yesterday evening, a rumor spread in the social media that Mohan along with his family joined in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A photo of Mohan's family along with the local BJP cadres also went viral, which allegedly created authencity for the rumor. Madurai BJP executive SG Surya also shared this picture on his Twitter page.

Meanwhile, Mohan has denied talks about him joining the (BJP).

While speaking to ETV Bharat he said, "I need all parties. I need all leaders like MK Stalin, Eddappadi Palanisamy, Narendra Modi for the well being of the people. Even TN minister R. B. Udhaya Kumar personally called and congratulated me. But I'm not in any party, " he further clarified

(With inputs from IANS)