‘Masterstroke by master of situation’: Shatrughan Sinha on Rahul Gandhi’s minimum income scheme

After being denied ticket from Bihar’s Patna Sahib, estranged BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha on Tuesday showered praises upon Congress president Rahul Gandhi for announcing the minimum income scheme, while taking a jab at his own party’s leadership. Terming the scheme that promises guaranteed Rs 12,000 income for poor families a “masterstroke”, Sinha questioned BJP leaders who called the scheme a 'chhal-kapat' (deceit).

"It’s a masterstroke by the ‘master of situation’, @RahulGandhi - declaring #MinimumIncomeGuarantee scheme. It has rattled our people so much that some of our prominent people had to rush for a press conference, calling the whole declaration/ announcement 'chhal-kapat'," the estranged BJP leader tweeted.

Taking pot-shots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his unfilled promises, Sinha asked whether it was fair to announce various "jumlas" such as 15 Lacs to every individual and 2 crore jobs for the youth every year.

"Would like to know from our learned friends/leadership - that when you announced various 'jumlaas'....15 Lacs to every individual, farmers’ loan waivers & subsidies, more than 2 crore jobs for the youth every year, etc. etc..Was all this fair?" he wrote in a series of tweet.

"Aap kare toh 'raasleela', baki kare toh 'character dheela'! What is right for Peter, should be right for Paul, Sir. The people have welcomed this move & are very excited. Farmers loans have been waived as promised by them recently - in 3 different states," he added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday named Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as its candidate from disgruntled parliamentarian Shatrughan Sinha's  Patna Sahib constituency in Bihar. The BJP leader's remarks praising Rahul Gandhi are also significant as they have come in a time when speculations are rife that he may soon join the Congress.