Ending all ties with BJP : Former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha

Making the announcement in Patna, Sinha said he would not be joining any political party, but work towards “protecting democracy”.

“I am declaring from this stage today that I am discontinuing my association with BJP...today I am ending all ties with the BJP," he said at an event, which was attended by several non BJP parties, including Congress, to discuss alternative political platform.

The meeting has been called under the banner of Rashtra Manch, floated by him and another rebel BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, to discuss present political scenario and the future course of action.

Speaking at the programme, Sinha  accused the government of  not allowing the budget session in Parliament to run.   “I can say with full responsibility that the Indian government did not let the House run.  "The government did not care that the Budget Session was being stalled. Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call a single meeting with the Opposition to discuss their issues."

Attacking the government, Sinha said that the democratic institutions are being undermined, cites the press conference called by four senior judges of the Supreme Court. He also hits out at the government for the Election Commission.

Yashwant Sinha was external affairs minister under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ( 2002-04) and finance minister in the same government from 1998-2002 .