Shatrughan Sinha takes on BJP over Bihar: 'If voicing truth is an act of revolt, then I am a rebel'

Nagpur: BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, who has openly criticised the party’s Bihar poll strategy and its stand to not fix responsibility post the debacle, on Sunday said he has only spoken the “truth” even as he took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the number of seats the party has won under his watch. “If voicing truth is an act of revolt then yes I am guilty of being a rebel. I have always spoken in the interest of the party and the nation. If some people misconstrued for rebellion then I am a rebel,” Sinha said at a function. [caption id=“attachment_2407454” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Shatrughan Sinha[/caption] He had last night said the “credit” for the seats won by the party in the state goes to Modi and claimed that his attack on RJD chief Lalu Prasad backfired. Sinha had also said Bihar voters had understood that the announcement of economic package by Modi was a “poll gimmick”. “All the credit goes to Modiji for the number of seats won by BJP in Bihar and there should not be any doubt about it,” he had said while taking a jibe at the PM. The Patna Sahib MP, who has of late turned into a vocal critic of top leadership, reiterated that he was “firm” on seeking action against those responsible for the Bihar rout where BJP’s tally depleted to 53 seats against 178 seats won by the JD (U)-led grand-alliance of the RJD and Congress. “…What wrong have I have committed? All I have done is pointed out the flaws (during poll campaigning). For instance, I have said that the first priority of the government should be to check prices of dal (pulses) and essential commodities since common man is reeling under price rise. “Then I sought an end to ‘Bihari Vs Bahari’ debate that raged during recent Bihar campaign since I believed that no countryman could be termed as outsider in that state,” Sinha said at the function to felicitate veteran Hindi journalist and editor SN Vinod on his 75th birthday. Seeking to put to rest speculations that he was on his way out from the BJP, the Patna Sahib MP said the BJP is the first and perhaps the last political party for him. “I had joined the BJP when it was a two-MP party and stayed along to see it grow and gain full majority at the Centre. No one can doubt my loyalty, sincerity and contribution to the BJP,” the veteran actor said. He said nobody in the party was held responsible even though “it lost elections in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. “How can they take action against me when I have committed no wrong and always guarded party’s interest,” the former Union minister said. Though today’s event was apolitical, no BJP functionary attended it. Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, chairman of Lokmat Media Group, was the chief guest on the occasion. PTI