This Article is From Aug 03, 2013

Shatrughan Sinha asked by BJP not to speak against Narendra Modi or praise Nitish Kumar: sources

Shatrughan Sinha asked by BJP not to speak against Narendra Modi or praise Nitish Kumar: sources

File photo of Shatrughan Sinha

New Delhi: BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha has been told by the party high command that his comments against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and in favour of his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar, who recently snapped ties with the NDA, are harming the party's interest. Sources say, Mr Sinha has been asked to restrain himself.

BJP sources said party president Rajnath Singh has asked Mr Sinha not to speak against Mr Modi or praise Mr Kumar. Mr Sinha is likely to pipe down and toe the party line in the coming days.

Meanwhile, BJP countered Mr Sinha's statement that if popularity is the criteria then actor Amitabh Bachchan should be made the president of India.

"Reel life and real life are different. The popularity in one is different from the popularity enjoyed in the other. In reel life, there is no doubt that Amitabh Bachchan is popular but in real life Modi enjoys huge popularity," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters.

Mr Sinha had made the popularity remark to counter Mr Singh's oft-repeated comments that Mr Modi is the most popular leader in the country.

Mr Sinha has caused embarrassment to the BJP in the last few days with a series of comments. He had described Nitish Kumar as "PM material" which had irked his party as the JD(U) leader walked out of NDA when Mr Modi was elevated as BJP's Election Campaign Committee chief. Mr Kumar had strongly indicated to the BJP that he is opposed to Mr Modi being made the PM candidate.

Many within BJP feel Mr Sinha has got away without any disciplinary action as he invokes senior leader LK Advani while hitting out at Mr Modi.

While commenting on Mr Bachchan being very popular, Mr Sinha had also said Mr Advani should be the PM candidate. In a recent interview, Mr Sinha had said Mr Modi cannot become PM candidate without Mr Advani's blessings.
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