‘Sad about Advani’s silence, won’t return to BJP’

Former BJP member Jaswant Singh’s controversial book, Jinnah: India Partition Independence, was launched in Mumbai on Monday evening. Speaking on the occasion, he categorically ruled out his return to the party and expressed his disappointment with L K Advani’s silence on the issue.

“I am saddened that a leader of the eminence of Lal Krishna Advani has expressed his inability in the words he has used.” Singh has pointedly stated that he would not return to the BJP if they were to invite him back. “I’m sorry if this offends you, but I won’t go back.”

The book, only six weeks old, is already in its 20th reprint and Singh admits his pride at the turn of events. “Pride for an author has negative connotations, but I feel satisfied, yes,” Singh said.

Speaking on the Jinnah House controversy, Singh said, “Jinnah House belongs to his daughter, Dina. A house should not become a political plaything. There are other prominent leaders, whose names I will not mention, who have got their properties back that were earlier declared as evacuee properties.”

Singh revealed that he is currently working on two books. “One is a book on C Rajagopalachari and another is a compilation of my political diaries of the last many decades,” he said, adding, “The controversies were not of my making.”

While he’s categorical that he remains focused on his new constituency, Darjeeling, despite his expulsion from the party, he’s not clear on his son, Manvendra Singh’s stance in the BJP. “My son is in London on a scholarship; whether he chooses to remain in the BJP or distance himself from it, he will only decide when he returns three months later,” Singh avers.

Singh isn’t worried about his future in politics either. “I’m clear I want to work with Hindu-Muslim relations, like Jinnah did,” he says. “And that’s a lot of work to do.”

Indian Express