(From left) Shekhar Suman, Sushil Kumar Modi, Shatrughan Sinha, Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Shyam Rajak light a lamp at a function organised in memory of Suman’s father on his birth anniversary, in Patna on Saturday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, April 30: “Khamosh”, Patna Sahib MP Shatrughan Sinha had used his favourite word to silence rival Shekhar Suman after defeating the latter in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. Shotgun (BJP) and Shekhar (Congress) had fought the poll battle fiercely.

Today, two years later, the two political rivals shared a dais, hugged and showered lavish praise on each other. The 83rd birth anniversary of Suman’s father Dr Phanibhushan Prasad became a reason for the two Bollywood actors to come together and bury the hatchet.

“Shatrughanji is like my elder brother. It is because of his guidance I have achieved this level. I have high regards for him. Sometimes tits and bits happen and that is what happened between us. But things are fine between us. We are brothers and friends,” Suman said while addressing the function at Bihar Chamber of Commerce here.

Shotgun, on his part, said, “I have all the good wishes for Suman. We belong to the same family tree. Both of us were born at Kadamkuan. The month of our birth is also common — December. And our name begins with “S”. So where is the difference?”

In his inimitable style, Shotgun said, “There is no issue about Suman contesting against me in the election. We have democracy in which everyone has the right to contest the polls. Had Suman not contested, someone else would have against me. The polls are a matter of past now and we are brothers and friends as usual.”

Shotgun is believed to be angry with his party which ignored him while celebrating the victory day to commemorate Veer Kuer Singh’s war on the British forces in 1857, last week.

Shotgun used the occasion to take a dig at the JD (U)-BJP government in presence of the deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey (both BJP) and food minister Shyam Razak (JD-U) who were present on the occasion.

“Like Shekhar, I too wanted to open a hospital to be run on no-profit-no-loss basis. My troupe was to organise a charity show for the cause for which space was booked and tickets were sold out. But the government cancelled it at the last moment,” Shotgun said, adding, “Our government turned down several other humanitarian projects that I proposed later.”

Sushil Kumar Modi did not comment on Shotgun’s remarks.

Suman has planned to open a paediatric hospital in the name of his father who was a noted physician. Shotgun announced his full support to Shekhar’ venture.

Revealing how he invited the BJP MP, Suman said, “Inadvertently, I had not invited Shatrughanji for the function. Fortunately, he (Shotgun) met me in the same flight and I apprised him about the function. Shatrughanji instantly agreed attend the function. I am obliged to him.”

“It does not matter if Shekhar had not given me a formal invitation. We belong to the same family. I was keen to attend the function when I learnt that he (Shekhar) is going to organise the event in his father’s memory.”

Suman said, “See, the Indian players who fought together in the ICC World Cup and won. Now they are playing for different IPL franchisees. It does not mean that they have turned hostile to one another. Similarly, we (Suman and Shotgun) fought against each other in the polls. But we are together now. I am happy Shatrughan ji is supporting my venture to open the hospital.”