NCP leader backs Shatrughan over Jinnah comment

Defending Congress leader Shatrughan Sinha over his 'Jinnah' comment, NCP leader Majeed Memon said that Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a vital part of the freedom struggle, and if Sinha had actually said something anti-national, it was because of the BJP's 'teaching'.

New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon on Sunday lauded Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah for his contribution in the freedom struggle and said that BJP president Amit Shah tagged Shatrughan Sinha as an 'anti-national' as Jinnah was Muslim.

On being asked to comment on Sinha's statement, "From Mahatma Gandhi to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, all part of Congress Parivar", Memon said, "Amit Shah should note that till yesterday he (Shatrughan Sinha) was with them, if he said something anti-national then it is their teaching."

He further added, "He (Jinnah) made a big contribution to the freedom struggle, just because he was a Muslim you are offended and are calling Shatrughan Sinha anti-national."

The actor-turned-politician courted controversy for saying that "from Mahatma Gandhi to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, all are part of Congress Parivar."

Sinha during a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara had lauded Muhammad Ali Jinnah along with Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, and Jawaharlal Nehru, saying they all had a role to play in India's independence.

However, Sinha, who recently left BJP and joined Congress issued a clarification over his statement saying that the remark was a "slip of the tongue" from his side.

Sinha yesterday said that he wanted to take Maulana Azad's name but instead, uttered the name of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

"Whatever I said yesterday was slip of tongue. I wanted to say Maulana Azad but uttered Muhammad Ali Jinnah," he had claimed.

Read: Jinnah part of Congress family, says Shatrughan Sinha