Unlike Amitabh, I won't quit politics: Shatru

Rebel BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha on Thursday said that unlike Amitabh Bachchan, who quit as Lok Sabha member in 1987, he had no plans to bid adieu to politics.

The four-term MP said: “The question of my leaving politics, much like Amitabh Bachchan did in 1987 after winning 1984 elections from Allahabad, does not arise.
I am not being ignored in the BJP, which is like a family. Aur parivar mein man-mutao chalta hai (In a family, there are always disagreements), but that does not mean I will quit politics.”

Shatrughan drew an analogy how he was alone in the tinsel town when he went to Maharashtra for the first time in the late 60s.

“Even after passing out from FTII, Pune, I struggled a lot a get a foothold in the Hindi film industry. In fact, I was the first person from Bihar who carved a niche for oneself in Bollywood without a godfather. If you go through my book ‘Anything but khamosh’, you will realise I am of a different mettle who, if not better than the best, is different from the rest,” he said while speaking to Deccan Herald, on the sidelines of a function here in the state capital.

“Much like I struggled in the film industry, one has to struggle in politics too. That’s why I tell the new generation to read my biography which would motivate them to swim against the tide,” said Shatru, who, of late, had been at loggerheads with his party high command.

Denying that his forthright statements have put the party in an embarrassing situation, Shatrughan refuted that he was being treated like a non-entity within the saffron party.

“I joined the BJP when it was a two-MP party. This will be my first and last political party,” he put the record straight denying any plans to cross over the fence even if the party fails to utilise his services for campaigning in the ensuing Assembly polls in five states.

Shatru had a word of praise for his friend-cum-rival Amitabh. “I think no one in this country has achieved the kind of admiration like Amitabh Bachchan. His acceptability, ability and respectability is such that in 2017, when the presidential election takes place, Amitabh should be the presidential candidate. Amitabh is fit enough, and has all the traits to be India’s president,” he said.