Kolkata: Lambasting BJP for including his name in its Rathyatra, allegedly without his consent, famous Bollywoood singer Kumar Sanu has refused to participate in the party’s grand rally that is scheduled to get underway this month in West Bengal.
He accused BJP of hatching a “conspiracy” against him while wondering why the party did not even consult him before using his name.
The singer claimed that he was no longer associated with BJP, which he had joined six years ago to get assistance for his social welfare activities. The singer complained that “no help” from BJP prompted him to quit the party and politics as well.
Red-faced by the setback, BJP reasoned that he might have faced pressure to deny his association with the party to skip the event.
According to party insiders, Kumar Sanu was to attend a rally on December 16 at Siliguri in North Bengal and at Sreerampore in Hooghly on December 26. His name was included in the speakers’ list as well, sources revealed. But he refused, saying that he was in dark about the event.
On Monday, he said angrily, “No one knows who sent the list and to whom. Moreover, they should have contacted the person, on whose name they are carrying out publicity, and asked for his availability or whether he was still with the party or not. They needed to know these things first. Instead of doing that, they arranged it on their own in Kolkata because they know the people of the city love me. So, in that sense it is a conspiracy.”
He elaborated, “In 2012, I had joined BJP to get some help for my schools for the orphans that are run in Delhi and Kolkata. However, no help came to my school. So, I have not been in any party politics. I made it clear to myself at least 50 times that I am neither associated with any party nor do I have any transaction with any party. I have only one party, which is music party.”
Countering his arguments, state BJP spokesperson Sayantan Basu said, “We wanted Kumar Sanu to attend our event since he became our party member earlier. We cannot say why he would not come or under whose pressure he is denying his membership. It is possible only for him to explain. We reiterate that we wanted him to participate in our event. Subsequently, his name was sent to our Central leadership in New Delhi.”
