New Delhi, May 22: BJP parliamentarian Shatrughan "Shotgun" Sinha today chided those in the party engaging in "negative politics and mudslinging" against Lalu Prasad and Arvind Kejriwal, spoiling the celebratory mood over the impending third anniversary of the Narendra Modi government.
The central leadership chose silence but senior Bihar leader Sushil Kumar Modi dubbed the veteran actor a "traitor" and a "BJP shatru (enemy)" and demanded his removal from the party.
Sinha hit back, claiming to be a "staunch party loyalist" and demanding intervention against Sushil Modi by Prime Minister Modi and party president Amit Shah.
"Hope, wish & pray that our dashing and dynamic action hero Prime Minister @narendramodi & our hon'ble President of @BJP4India will take notice of such unparliamentary utterances of some of our party people - that too against a senior party colleague & a staunch party loyalist," he tweeted.
Sinha, MP from Patna Sahib and popularly known as "Bihari babu", is believed to be sulking over the denial of a ministry berth and has often transgressed the party line in his public comments.
He today took to Twitter with unusual aggression and asked BJP politicians hurling unsubstantiated charges against Kejriwal and Lalu Prasad to stop feeding stories to the media.
"Enough of negative politics & mudslinging by opponents on our political leaders, be it Kejriwal, Laloo Yadav or Sushil Modi. High time to substantiate your claims or pack up! Can't just keep feeding media with one night stories & sensationalising. Enough is enough!" Sinha tweeted.
Sushil Modi responded with: "Traitors should be thrown out of the house without any delay. BJP's ' shatru' (enemy) has come to defend Lalu Prasad in benami wealth case that even Nitish Kumar did not do."
What has angered the leadership the most are Sinha's subsequent tweets that held Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal in "high esteem", sources said. The current BJP dispensation dislikes Kejriwal like no other political rival.
"Individually I hold all political leaders, especially Kejriwal, in high esteem for their credibility, struggle & commitment towards society. Our BJP surely believes in honesty & transparency, which seldom go together but must go together. An allegation is only that unless proved?" Sinha posted.
The tweets came just before a BJP news conference where textiles minister Smriti Irani announced events "at 900 places across the country between May 26 and June 15 to mark three years of the government".
"A Making of Developed India festival, or 'MODI' fest, showcasing all the schemes of the government, will also be organised," she said.
Party general secretary Arun Kumar Singh said: "A total of 450 prominent leaders (including chief ministers, ministers and MPs) will go out across the country to reach out to the people."
A question at the end of the briefing about Sinha's tweets and Sushil Modi's demand was treated with disdain.
"This press conference is about the achievements of the three years of the Modi government. Concentrate on this and write good things. Don't get distracted with other things," Singh said.
Off the record, BJP sources said Sinha had "crossed the limits" by defending Lalu Prasad and Kejriwal in public.
"He has been going against the party line for a long time, but this is too much. The leadership will surely act," a BJP politician said.
Party sources said dissidents like Sinha could be denied nominations in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Darbhanga MP Kirti Azad has already been suspended from the party for his public attacks on finance minister Arun Jaitley.
