Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Sinha quits BJP – what difference does it make?' that was published in Newsband

Sinha quits BJP – what difference does it make?

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha announced that he was severing all ties with the party and preparing to launch a nationwide campaign to save democracy. Sinha said democracy today was in danger in the country. Once the democratic institutions are trampled upon, it takes a long time to restore them, he says. Is he trying to become Jayaprakash Naryan?

Yashwant Sinha first became irrelevant in BJP and then a dissident but only after he was not included in the inner circle of PM Narendra Modi. He did not get any post in the PM Modi’s cabinet and slowly he became a bitter critic of PM Modi. Instead of quitting BJP straight away some two years back, Sinha continued to criticise government policies. PM Modi and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were Sinha’s main targets. No one in BJP’s top leadership took serious note of Sinha’s criticism. This is background of his latest decision to quit BJP. Therefore, one feels that timing of decision to quit BJP is wrong. If Sinha had taken this step some 12 months back, it would have been appreciated. Now that he is absolutely sure that ‘ship called BJP’ is sinking (as per his own estimates), he has taken this step. He deserves to be ignored. Over a period of time he will just go out of public memory and that would be right response to an opportunist like Sinha.

His party gave him everything that he has in life today. There will not be many takers for the alibi of Save Democracy, Constitution etc. except that some disgruntled elements might support him. He will soon realize his situation outside the Party that gave him pride of place all these years.

Sinha, finally realizes that Indian democracy is in danger and the press is being stifled. And his heart too beats for the country. A clear case of grapes being "sour".

At the age of 80, Sinha, after enjoying all the great positions and benefits from the government wanted to 'start a movement to save democracy' because his 'heart beats for India'! Fantastic! Such dramatic scenarios are possible in India only!

One of the frontline leaders of the BJP, Sinha who held important portfolios including Finance and External Affairs during the Vajpayee regime has been chafing at the bit for quite some time, unable to reconcile himself to the fact that he would not be considered for any post in the party having crossed the age of 75. This rejection perhaps was the reason for his turning into a vehement critic of the Narendra Modi government and he has missed no opportunity to run down the administration. By refusing to sack him the party had given him a long rope and a few leaders had also hinted that he could leave the party on his own. Now that he has severed his links with the BJP the ex-IAS officer can be expected to voice his grievances at a much higher pitch than before and this could embarrass the Modi government quite a bit.

Sinha is leaving BJP in the strongest times, he should have stayed in BJP and done good for country instead of being mere critic. Really democracy is not in danger but his future in politics is in danger. All he is going to do is try and put pressure on BJP party. He might try to be country’s President in the name of saving democracy. Thus he is trying hard to save his political future.

Every one when enters into politics say that they are going to dedicate to the people. But the passage of time is making them spinning money and indulge in opportunistic politics. Sinha has been vocally criticizing BJP in outside forums which is against all ethics. He should have voiced his concern and resentment within the party forum and when he found that all his aversions did not bear fruit he has chosen to come out of BJP. By remaining in the party, he should have helped it to cleanse if he really loved the party. Saving democracy in alliance with Tejaswi Yadav whose father looted the poor and presently lodged in jail in fodder scam cases and who himself is being interrogated in disproportionate asset case and is a text book example of Dynastic politics. What a hypocrisy!

We should elect leaders who will give importance to secularism, globalism, security of needy neglected groups from all religions, all castes, all nations to check terrorism. Anyway, Sinha was never a politician with national following. He was long forgotten which is why he has roped in of all people,"Lalu's" family member to attract crowd! Media will totally ignore him now.