One morning he is inaugurating a Haemophilia hospital in Patna, the next day he is opening a blood bank. One day you see him interacting with patients of Mahavir Cancer Sansthan at Phulwarisharif, the next day you find his cavalcade negotiating the muddy roads of Sonepur in north Bihar, where he, in his inimitable style, is spreading awareness about cancer.

The man, who wears Bihar on his sleeves, is, however, pained to find that people in the state have started taking law into their hands, giving rise to the “lynching syndrome”. “Are we going to become a banana republic?”, asks the Bihari Babu.

Known as doston ka dost (a friend indeed), who stands rock-like during the hour of crisis, Shatru, unlike many of his senior BJP colleagues, has stood by the Leader of the Opposition L K Advani through thick and thin.

Showering encomiums on the former BJP president. Shatru says “With the kind of ability, respectability and capability Advaniji has, he could, and should, become India’s Prime Minister.”


In an interview with Abhay Kumar of Deccan Herald, the former Union shipping minister also puts to rest the controversy that the Setusamundram project was given the go-ahead during the NDA’s regime. “At least I never approved it,” Shotgun, as he is fondly known, steers clear. Excerpts:

Of late, you are seen attending health-related programmes: either spreading awareness about cancer, inaugurating a blood bank or opening a haemophilia hospital with your MPLAD fund?

Iss mein harz kya hai (What’s wrong in it?). These issues were always very dear to me. As Union health minister, I wanted to do a lot in this sector. I am simply carrying forward my mission as an MP.

You were Union shipping minister. It is said that the Sethusamundram project was cleared during the NDA regime.

Absolutely false. At least I never gave the go-ahead nod. This must have been done by the present minister T R Baalu. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh does not have the guts to either rein in the present shipping minister, or tame Union Health Minister A Ramadoss, who has created a mess in his ministry in general and AIIMS in particular.

But in popularity ratings and surveys carried out in recent times, Manmohan Singh is way ahead.

He has become a Mauni Baba, neither has he any control over his ministers. Apart from Baalu and Ramdoss, he could not even broker peace between his two warring colleagues from Bihar, Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan.

Bihar has, in recent times, hit the headlines for the lynching syndrome. People have started taking law into their hands. Last week, 10 thieves were beaten to death in Vaishali.

It’s a matter of deep concern. Are we moving towards a banana republic? Bihar mein aaj na mangal raj hai na jungle raj. (Neither there is good governance nor misrule in Bihar). The growing intolerance in society is definitely a dangerous sign.

This also reflects on Nitish Kumar, who rode to power in the name of  providing sushashan (good governance) and establishing the rule of law.

I don’t think so. You can’t blame Nitish for every mess. But yes, the administration and the police have failed Nitish. The CM needs to tighten the screw.

The internal bickering within your party over the next prime ministerial candidate is getting murkier. Recently, Yashwant Sinha said Advani...

He had not exactly said what has been reported in the media (interrupts). What he wanted to do was to avoid a controversy over the issue. I feel that very few leaders in the BJP command the kind of respectability, ability, capability and integrity as Advaniji. I, therefore, feel that Advani could, and should, become India’s Prime Minister. The party should take a decision on the issue. And sooner, the better.


But one of your own NDA colleagues, Nitish Kumar, is batting for Vajpayee.

Who is disputing that? Vajpayeeji is like our father-figure, and will always remain so.