New Delhi:
Shatrughan Sinha, who has been using almost every political platform to attack the Bharatiya Janata Party, today stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale issue. While addressing a huge gathering at Mamata Banerjee’s United India rally, Sinha said that PM Modi must answer few questions else he will have to hear "chowkidaar chor hai (the watchman is a thief)".
He also asked PM Modi to clarify why he scrapped a deal for 126 aircraft and signed a new one for only 36. PM Modi must explain why he decided to pay three times more for the same fighter jet. "The opposition parties have few questions for you. Until you answer them, the public will continue to say that chowkidaar chor hai (the watchman is a thief)," he said, adding that he does not fear being thrown out by his party.
Casting aspersions on the Rafale deal, Sinha said that Anil Ambani's company hasn't produced even a cycle ka chakka (cycle's wheel), forget about manufacturing aerospace components. But it became the offset partner as part of the Rafale deal. How did that happen, PM Modi must clarify, said the lawmaker from Patna Sahib.
He also accused the prime minister of making false and hollow promises and said that the people of the country can see through.
"Naye vaade ho rahe hain and performance kuch nahi (new promises are being made, but their performance isn't worth talking). Gehri khayi hai promises and performance ke beech (there is a huge gap between what they promise and what they deliver)," he said.
Taking cognisance of Sinha’s presence at the rally, the BJP said he as an "opportunist" and said the minister was in the party to enjoy the perks of being an MP, but at the same time seen making different voices at various platforms.
"Sinha has been speaking against the party at various platforms. And it is always important for the BJP to act against such people and the party will take cognisance of it," National spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
Taking a dig at Sinha, Rudy said some people are "intelligent in different ways". They abide by the party's whip so that they don't lose their membership. "At the same time, they are so opportunistic... and can be present at any conclave. The BJP will take cognisance of it," Rudy said.
