Mumbai
February 2, 2018
Veteran actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who is a part of
the "non-political" platform Rashtra Manch -- aimed at raising issues concerning
the Narendra Modi government -- says he feels free now as he felt "stifled" by
the stepson like treatment by the BJP.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q. It's party time. When and how did the Rashtra Manch happen?
A. It
was an idea floating in some of our restless heads for a while. You know how
hard it is for me to keep a secret (laughs). Special mention must be made of
individuals like Ghanshyam Tiwari and K.C. Singh who made this possible. But I
had to keep the plans under wraps until we actually launched the Rashtra Manch.
And now here we are.
Q. How does it feel?
A. To have a forum, a
platform where I can express myself and most importantly, be able to work
towards bettering the country, is extremely liberating. I can't tell you how
free I feel. Khuli hawaa mein saans lene ka mazaa hi kuch aur hai (the thrill of
breathing in the open air is something else).
Q. But your parent party
the BJP never stopped you from speaking?
A. They never allowed me to do
anything other than speak. I seemed to serve no purpose beyond being an
outspoken member of my parent party. I felt my parent party was giving me the
treatment given to a stepson. Quite honestly I felt stifled. Yashwant Sinhaji is
someone I've respected and been associated with for a long time. When he came up
with this idea of a non-political forum, I was completely for it. You see, we
are not a breakaway party. We are not rebelling from our parent party. We are
not fence crossers.
Q. So what is the purpose of the Rashtra Manch?
A. Let me first tell you what is not its purpose. We are not fighting any
election in the Rashtra Manch. So in that sense we are not a political party.
Our motive for coming together is to bring real change and reform in the social
order. I am not just talking about lip service. But real changes.
Q. Like
what?
A. Like addressing the financial issues, looking into the needs of
the poor. We will be addressing farmers' suicide, unemployment, internal
security and external security. I feel too much attention is being focused on
irrelevant issues to digress attention from actual problems. A case in point is
the "Padmaavat" controversy. It was highly unnecessary and totally uncalled for.
Q. Would you be allowed to address real issues?
A. Why would we not
be allowed? Doesn't our honourable Prime Minister, the country's biggest and
strongest action hero Narendra Modiji want changes and reform to happen? We've
floated this party to strengthen his hands, just as Jaiprakash Narain and V.P.
Singh had floated a party while being a part of the RSS.
Q. Are you
confident that your new party would be able to make a difference?
A. We
have our hearts and goals in the right place. We have like-minded people in the
party. Political optimists like Pavan Varma, Dinesh Tiwary, Renuka Chowdhary,
Som Pal are with us. We feel empowered and hopeful.
Q. But the Telangana
BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao has accused you and Yashwant Sinha of
crossing all limits?
A. Iss saagar (ocean) may kitni gehrayee hai yeh toh
sabko maloom hai (Everyone knows how deep this ocean runs).