When Shatrughan Sinha, who had been in the BJP and then Congress for a long time, joined the TMC, all kinds of questions started being raised on him. He has also been made a candidate by TMC in the by-election. Recently at the International Book Fair held in Kolkata, a TMC MLA made a statement about the people of Bihar. On this statement, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly Shubhendu Adhikari has sought a reply from Shatrughan Sinha.
At the Kolkata International Book Fair, Hooghly MLA and TMC leader Manoranjan Byapari said, “If Bengali blood runs in your veins… If you love, you have to shout out loud – ‘Ek Bihari, Sau Bimari’. We do not want disease. Make Bengal disease free. Jai Bangla, Jai didi Mamta Banerjee.”
Controversy arose when its video went viral. BJP leader Shubhendu Adhikari tweeted, “My humble question to Bihari Babu Shri Shatrughan Sinha is Sir, what do you feel about this shameful statement by TMC MLA Manoranjan Byapari? Your new party allies are very transparent about their feelings towards Biharis.”
Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha on Monday expressed his gratitude to party president Mamata Banerjee, for which the Trinamool Congress has declared the candidate for the Asansol Lok Sabha seat. Simultaneously, Sinha rubbished the allegation of being an “outsider” leveled by the opponents. Sinha has been a member of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha twice. “The future of the country is in Banerjee’s hands. I will strengthen their hands by expanding ‘Khela Hobe’ across the country.”
He said, “It is a matter of pride for me that Mamata Banerjee herself has declared me the Trinamool candidate from Asansol in the Lok Sabha bypolls. She is a tried and tested and successful leader in whose hands is the future of the country. Today’s government does divisive politics against which Banerjee can stand.”
Asked if he left the Congress to join the West Bengal chief minister, Sinha said, “I will only say that I am supporting Banerjee in the fight for communal harmony and welfare of the people.”