Kedar Nath Saigal, Managing Agent of the Mohini Films Ltd., Lahore, came under the spell of national politics during the days of the Punjab agrarian unrest in 1907. When Ajit Singh and Sufi Amba Prasad set up the Bharat Mata Society, he joined it and soon became an active political worker. He took a leading part in the first campaign launched in the Punjab for non-payment of taxes. To promote the cause of Indian nationalism he founded two nationalist papers known as Khabarda and Urdu Akhbar. The Punjab Government considered his writings in these papers objectionable and his security deposits were forfeited. In 1911 he was arrested under the Arms Act and detained for a year. In 1915 he was re-arrested in connection with the first Lahore Conspiracy Case but was released after a year's trial.Immediately after this he was re-arrested under the defense of India Act and interned in District Multan for a period of four and a half years. In 1920 he secured his release but instead of taking rest he plunged into the non-cooperation movement in 1921. At that time he happened to be General Secretary of the Congress Committee, Lahore. He was hanged up and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment in 1922. After his release he was re-arrested and sent to jail in 1923.In the ranks of the Indian National Congress he occupied a position of prominence. He was member of the All-India Congress Committee till 1935. He was a co-founder of the Naujwan Bharat Sabha, which acquired great name and fame under the leadership of Bhagat Singh. When the first meeting of this Sabha was held in the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, in 1928, Saigal was elected its President. He was also the Kirti Kisan Party in the Punjab, both set up in 1928. He took a leading part in organizing the boycott of the Simon Commission and was involved in a riot case in connection therewith. In 1928 he was arrested in the Saunder's Murder Case and imprisoned for 3 years. During the period of his incarceration he was taken to Meerut for interrogation in connection with the Meerut Conspiracy Case. He remained there as an under-trial prisoner for period of 4 years and was then sentenced to a term of 4 years rigorous imprisonment. On his appeal the Allahabad High Court spared him the additional term and he was released in 1933. From 1933 to 1936 he functioned as General Secretary of the Punjab Provincial Congress Committee.
