Patna: Muhammad Ali Jinnah remark was a slip of tongue – Shatrughan Sinha

Patna: Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha has triggered a controversy by praising Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah during a political rally in Madhya Pradesh.

On Saturday NDA leaders including Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar criticized him for his Jinnah remark. Speaking to this newspaper BJP MLA Nitin Navin said that “Shatrughan Sinha has hurt the sentiments of Indians by praising Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Shatrughan Sinha’s mentality has changed after he joined the Congress party”.

On Friday while speaking at a rally in Madhya Pradesh Shatrughan Sinha had said that Jinnah was part of the Congress family and also praised him for playing a crucial role in Country’s independence.

However, on Saturday, he clarified that it was a slip of the tongue that he uttered the name of Muhammad Ali Jinnah when he wanted to say Maulana Azad in his speech.

“My statement is being blown by some people who want to gain out of it. I was speaking about the Congress which is a grand old party and its role in India’s independence and development. It was a slip of the tongue that I uttered Jinnah’s name when I wanted to speak about Maulana Azad. I don’t think I have committed a crime by taking Jinnah’s name by mistake”, Mr Sinha said.

Sources said that not only the BJP but the Congress party is equally offended by his remark. Mr Sinha who has been pitted by the Congress from Patna Sahib Constituency had created a flutter in his party recently when he campaigned for his wife Poonam Sigha, who is contesting from Lucknow in UP on Samajwadi Party ticket.