What's the need to remove pictures of people: Shatrughan on

Amid a row surrounding the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), disgruntled BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha today questioned the demand for removal of the portrait of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah from the varsity campus.

"....Suddenly the demands have started coming to change the names of universities or remove the pictures of some people. Why should they be removed? All these years they are there and everything was going on well," Shatrughan said without naming the AMU.

The BJP MP was in Panaji to deliver a lecture on the topic of "Indian economy and challenges before democracy", organised by Citizens for Democracy, a local group of intellectuals.

Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha also spoke on the occasion.

A controversy had erupted recently over the portrait of the Pakistan founder hanging in the AMU students' union office, after BJP MP Satish Gautam wrote a letter to AMU Vice Chancellor Tariq Mansoor objecting to the portrait.

Shatrughan said the BJP should introspect on the incidents wherein some people were lynched in the name of protection of cows in various parts of the country.

Referring to the current controversy surrounding top judiciary, he said, "I am not in a position to comment whether whatever is happening in judiciary is right or wrong, but the question is why this is happening".

The Patna Sahib MP said he was trying to show "mirror" to his own party by speaking in favour of "truth".

"Many people ask me why do I speak against the BJP despite being a party MP and being associated with the BJP since the time it was just a two-member party in parliament.

"They ask me why do I rebel against the party? Why don't I quit the party? I make them understand that I am not rebelling against the party. I always speak in the national interest and I always try that through my true opinion. I show mirror to my party," he said.

Shatrughan said the BJP believes that the party is greater than an individual and the nation is greater than the party.

"When I speak in favour of the nation, it is natural that I am talking for the welfare of the party and also for the common people. The party cannot be bigger than the nation," he added.