Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, however, rules out leaving the party

The BJP MP from Bihar, Shatrughan Sinha, on Sunday said if speaking the truth amounts to rebellion then he was a rebel. However, he ruled out leaving the party, saying he did not join the BJP to quit.

“If to call a spade a spade is rebellion then, yes, I am a rebel,” said Mr. Shatrughan here, while interacting with journalists.

Former BJP leader and Union Minister Yashwant Sinha, who had recently launched Rashtra Manch (National Forum), was also present at the interaction.

Mr. Shatrughan said the BJP was not the same party he had joined years ago. “The BJP today has become a ‘two-men show’... today’s BJP is of “Modi”, internal democracy in the party has finished,” he said, adding that his decision to back the Rashtra Manch should not be seen as anti-party activity as through this he was working in the national interest and not against the party.

“While I’ll not leave the party, yet I’ll not challenge the wisdom of my party (BJP) if they oust me,” he added.

Mr. Yashwant Sinha said members of the Rashtra Manch have been travelling across the country to meet people and the feedback reveals that it would be an uphill task for the BJP to win the general elections due in 2019.

“During the past four years, the government at the Centre has worked towards undermining democratic institutions instead of fulfilling its promises. Democracy is in danger and like-minded people need to join hands to save it,” he said, cautioning that once the democratic institutions are trampled upon, it takes a long time to restore them.

Mr. Sinha said issues surrounding youth, farmers, economy, foreign policy etc. are witnessing certain kind of trends, which are not healthy for the nation in the long run.

“With the Opposition parties coming together and unitedly fighting against the BJP, I am sure winning general elections due in 2019 for the BJP would be an uphill task,” he said.