Former BJP leader-turned-rebel-turned-Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha is in the headlines again. After repeatedly denigrating PM Narendra Modi and the BJP over the past few years he has taken another u –turn and has again praised PM Modi. In a tweet, the controversial leader has praised PM Modi for the recent success in the Parliament, where the government successfully steered the path breaking Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 or colloquially known as ‘triple talaq bill’. Along with PM Modi, Shatrughan Sinha has also praised Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who had defeated him from the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency this general election, he tweeted:
“Finally, big congratulations as the #TripleTalaqBill is a reality now bringing immense relief to our Muslim women. A super milestone, turning point at last, as women have been given justice, respect & honour which they truly deserve with this bill. A big victory for women empowerment & gender equality. Praiseworthy efforts by our Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi, our friend & learned minister Ravi Shankar Prasad & their teamwork in achieving this historic feat. This will ensure dignity of living for all women in general & our Muslim sisters in particular. Jai hind”
empowerment & gender equality. Praiseworthy efforts by our Hon'ble PM @narendramodi, our friend & learned minister @rsprasad & their teamwork in achieving this historic feat. This will ensure dignity of living for all women in general & our Muslim sisters in particular.
— Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) July 31, 2019
The actor turned politician Shatrughan Sinha, who is popularly known as ‘shotgun’ had won the election in 2014 on a BJP ticket however after being denied a cabinet post and an important role in state politics, friction developed between him and the party leadership. Since then Shatrughan Sinha was critical of the government and specifically the Prime Minister. Continuous attack on the party leadership had led to a total decline in Shatrughan Sinha’s popularity among BJP’s party cadre. With focus away from his constituency, Shatrughan Sinha’s performance as a MP also had suffered. BJP had later announced Union cabinet minister Ravi Shankar Prasad’s name for the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha seat, finally sealing the fate of Shatrughan Sinha with the saffron party and what followed was him jumping ships to the Congress ultimately to lose out on his former parliamentary seat.
These comments by Shatrughan Sinha are sure to not go down well with the Congress which has maintained a critical stand over the progressive bill, however for Shatrughan Sinha this won’t be the first time when he had gone against interests of the Congress.
In the run up to the 2019 general elections Congress candidate from Lucknow, controversial spiritual leader ‘Acharya’ Pramod had hit out at his then newly inducted Congress colleague , Shatrughan Sinha for ‘cutting Congress’ votes’ in the Lucknow Parliamentary Constituency. In a tweet ‘Acharya’ Pramod Krishnam taking aim at Shatrughan Sinha and said “From the behavior of Shatrughan Sinha, it appears that although he has joined the Congress, but has not yet resigned from the RSS,”
Pramod Krishnam comments came after Shatrughan Sinha was seen with his wife, Poonam Sinha during filing of her nomination from Lucknow. Poonam Sinha was the SP-BSP alliance candidate from Lucknow Parliamentary Constituency. Shatrughan Sinha was also seen campaigning for his wife and was also present in Public meeting organized by SP.
Shatrughan Sinha was also in the crosshairs when he had praised Muhammad Ali Jinnah at a Congress event, he had said “This is a Congress family; it is a family of all from Mahatma Gandhi to Vallabhbhai Patel to Muhammad Ali Jinnah to Nehru to Late Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi to Rahul Gandhi to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. It is a party, they have played a significant role in the development of the country, in advancing the country, in country’s freedom, and therefore I joined this party, and once I am here, I will not go back.”
Taking into account of his adventurism so far, Shatrughan Sinha’s addition to the Congress has turned out to be more adverse than beneficial for the grand old party. Nonetheless looking at the history of the controversial leader this is expected not to be an isolated incident. However, it remains to be seen what actions Congress takes against Shatrughan Sinha for going out of the party line and praising not only PM Modi but also the legislation that the grand old party has been opposing.