NEW DELHI, 21 October — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be losing its claim to being a party with a difference, says actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha. According to him, a big blow to the BJP has been its key ally George Fernandes’ hurried return to the Union Cabinet without his name being cleared by a commission inquiring into corruption in defense deals.
“The heavens wouldn’t have fallen if George had waited until his acquittal by the Venkataswami Commission,” Sinha told The Indian Express newspaper. Sinha sparked a controversy by saying this week that if Fernandes could be allowed back into the Union Cabinet, Laloo Prasad Yadav, who is charged with corruption, should be reinstated as Bihar’s chief minister.
He said that Laloo had not been convicted in any case, and that if the same yardstick was applied he should not be denied his due as well. Sinha also ridiculed those who were “smacking their lips” in anticipation of Laloo’s incarceration in Jharkhand.
He said that it was nothing like putting a lion in cage. But justifying his earlier statements Sinha said, “I am not against George Fernandes. I hold him in high esteem. My statement was not pro-Laloo. It was a principled stand.”
Fernandes had stepped down as defense minister in March after news portal tehelka.com, in a sting operation, did an investigative expose of corruption in defense deals during his tenure. He vowed to stay out of the government till the commission of inquiry cleared his name.
