Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha has said that he has BJP veteran LK Advani's blessings before leaving Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in an interview with NDTV. Sinha had switched sides to join Congress, ending his 20-year-old association with the ruling BJP this year.
Sinha also appeared confidence about PM Narendra Modi losing his position, saying that it is time for him to pick up his 'jholi' and go away.
“Advani Had Tears in Eyes But Didn't Stop Me”
Referring to him joining the Congress, Sinha said that when he joined a “new and better direction,” he took Advani's blessing. Speaking to NDTV in Patna, Sinha also said that Advani had tears in his eyes when he told him about his decision; but Advani didn’t stop him from joining the party.
Sinha, who joined BJP when Advani was in-charge, said that the difference between then and now is ‘lokshahi and tanashahi’ (democracy and autocracy). He also said that the current BJP has not treated its veterans well.
Sinha was dropped from his Patna Sahib constituency as the BJP candidate, leading him to change parties within days of the announcement.
"I will never bow down to them (BJP) like Advaniji — that they asked me to sit, so I will sit down. (sic)" he further told NDTV.
PM Modi Dodging Questions by Raising Nationalism
When asked if the Balakot strikes have made a difference in 2019 elections, Sinha said that PM Modi is dodging real questions by raising the nationalism issue. "Our honourable PM believes in shoot-and-scoot policy. When we ask him about employment, he talks about Pulwama... Why is he not answering the questions people want to know?"
Further, Sinha said that Modi will not be the prime minister after 23 May.
“He (PM Modi) used to say that ‘I will pick up my ‘jholi’ (bag) and walk away. Now it is time for him to pick up his ‘jholi’ and go away.”Shatrughan Sinha, Congress Leader
(With inputs from NDTV.)
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