Shatrughan concerned over growing differences among BJP members

PATNA - Reacting on the absence of prominent party leaders at the ongoing National Executive Meet of his party, Bollywood actor-turned-Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday expressed his concern over the growing differences among party members.

Sinha said that he was worried over the growing barriers between the party members, which are now visible to the people too.

Sinha hinted that the absence of senior leaders like Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie from the meet clearly pointed out the differences between the party workers.

“I am worried because the strength that was supposed to be is not there. In the view of the people, there are a lot of differences between the party workers. Today, Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, Colonel ..and Jaswant Singh were not present at the meet. Perhaps, the differences between the party workers are growing and what the reasons for these differences are. The things that happened with us in Jharkhand and the things that we are not able to achieve…I am worried all these things,” said Sinha.

He expressed disagreement with BJP’s nomination of Ram Jethmalani, an eminent lawyer, for the candidature for the Rajya Sabha polls by saying that it was not right for the party not to nominate senior leader like Hema Malini, who brought glamour along with dignity to the party.

“I am shocked that an efficient party worker like Hema Malini who not only added glamour to the party but also gave dignity. She contributed to the party’s success. We were happy that she would be getting the ticket and we wanted it too, but the ticket was given to Ram Jethmalani. I don’t have any personal problem with Ram Jethmalani but I don’t think it is right on the part of the party that the ticket was given to him at the cost of Hema Malini. Many people felt that she was dropped like a hot potato, which is also not right,” said Sinha while talking to media here.

The prominent leaders participating in the meet on the first day included BJP President Nitin Gadkari, L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi, and M Venkaiah Naidu.

The National Executive Committee began its two-day meeting at Patna city June 12, to plan the strategy for forthcoming state assembly polls due in October. (ANI)