Actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha, who recently joined the Congress party after leaving Bharatiya Janata Party was caught up in a controversy, after he lauded Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to be among the founding members of Congress who belonged to the grand old party.
In a public address while exalting the Congress party, he showered praise on the Quaid.
“I joined Congress party, never to return again, as this party is the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Jawaharlal Nehru etc who played a vital role in the development and freedom of India,” he added.
According to Indian media reports, the actor immediately faced a backlash and was criticised for the anti-Indian remarks by the opposing candidates. The opposition bashed Shatrughan Sinha for calling Quaid-e-Azam a great leader.
Thereafter, the actor took back his remarks and termed them a “slip of tongue”.
“I don’t regret my comments, as it was a slip of tongue, I wanted to say Maulana Azad but uttered Muhammad Ali Jinnah instead for which I quickly issued a clarification. I am giving the explanation myself not through a spokesman, my intent should be looked at instead of the delivered words,” he added.