Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s open invitation to ‘Shotgun’ Sinha

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has said he is ready to accept Bollywood actor and BJP MP from Patna Saheb Shatrughan Sinha with open arms, should he decide to break away from the party.

“Whether you are removed from the party or decide to leave it on your own, whatever happens in your political life, we are ready to accept you. Our doors are always open,” said Kumar.

He was speaking at the launch of Sinha’s biography “Anything But Khamosh”.

Kumar also said people from Bihar thought about the nation and did not need anyone else to teach nationalism to them.

“We do not want anyone else’s lesson on nationalism and what or what not to do. We think about the country,” said Kumar, adding that Sinha, too, had a national outlook instead of a sectarian mindset.

“Whenever he and I meet, we talk about development of the state and the nation,” said Kumar.

In the same breath, Kumar said he was not expecting Sinha to break away from his party.

“I know you will leave the party only if you decide to. Nobody can influence you to do so. But, we will welcome your any decision,” he said.

Former chief minister Lalu Prasad, who was also present at the launch, said: “Rival parties, including us, fear Sinha’s popularity and feel slightly threatened when he goes among people. He has made immense contributions to the party. However, he has been ‘used’.”

“Using something and then throwing it in the dustbin has become a popular trend now,” he quipped.

The two leaders also lauded his book and extended their best wishes to Sinha.