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Updated: Apr 28, 2019 00:01 IST

Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha has stirred a controversy by saying that Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah was among the leaders of the Congress “family” who had the “biggest” role in India’s Independence and progress, evoking sharp attack from the BJP.

Addressing a public rally in support of Congress candidate and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath’s son Nakul Nath on Friday in Sausar, Sinha said Congress “family” belongs to leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Jinnah, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi who played the “biggest and the most significant role” in India’s progress and Independence.

BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday raked up the issue while addressing a rally in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj and slammed Sinha for praising Jinnah. He said, “Shatrughan Sinha has just gone to the Congress. Now he says that Jinnah was also a great man like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. The Congress leaders are praising Jinnah, who has divided the country.”

Facing flak from the BJP for his remark, Sinha asserted that he saw nothing to be apologetic about the slip of tongue. He said he wished to speak about Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, but due to slip of tongue ended up saying Mohd Ali Jinnah.