Yashwant Sinha, who turned a trenchant critic of Modi government, has not submitted his resignation yet.
Former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha, who has been at loggerheads with BJP-led NDA government for quite sometime now, said on Saturday that he is ending all ties with BJP.
"Today I am taking 'sanyas' from any kind of party politics, today I am ending all ties with the BJP," Sinha was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. He made the announcement at an event with opposition parties in Patna.
Leaders from the Congress, Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and disgruntled BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha were present at the event.
Sinha, who turned a trenchant critic of Modi government, has not submitted his official resignation yet.
Sources said he may formally join forces with opposition parties as they work to put up a united front against the BJP.
Sinha had formed 'Rashtra Manch' on January 30, saying that it will be an apolitical forum and highlight "anti-people" policies of the Centre. Leaders from the Congress and other opposition parties had joined the event.
Earlier in February this year, Sinha said he would not quit BJP but challenged the party to 'throw him out'.
"Why should I quit the BJP? I had toiled hard during 2004-14 when the UPA was in power. Let the party throw me out if it wants," Sinha said.
Over several months, Sinha had pointed out several flaws of the Modi government in both domestic and foreign fronts. In an open letter published in Indian Express, Sinha said that after unprecedented 2014 verdict, he thought it would change the direction of the country. He claims to have backed the PM to the hilt, but says that after 4 years and five budgets, the nation seems to have lost its direction.
Sinha said the condition of economy is grim and flags the high profile banking scams and corruption cases. According to him, number of rape cases are increasing, Yashwant Sinha accuses that various institutions of democracy have been eroded in the last 4 years. According to him, party leaders can't voice their opinion freely in forums and the government showed no initiative to ensure Parliament works smoothly. Sinha also referred to the rift in judiciary and said judges have also pointed out that democracy is under threat.
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