BJP: Kandahar, Jinnah chapters shut
On pilgrimage
At a time when the allies seem to be deserting the BJP, the beleaguered outfit has embarked on a venture to recall it’s old expelled leaders. First homecoming was of the expelled senior leader of the party, Mr Jaswant Singh. After Mr Singh, the party also could possibly see the return of expelled sanyasan Uma Bharati.
Ousted from the party at the behest of the RSS in August last year, Mr Singh returned to the BJP on Thursday. Mr Singh is also Lok Sabha MP from Darjeeling.
“It’s good to be back with familiar faces and familiar surroundings,” said the Darjeeling MP. Mr Singh, who had once “wept silently” after expulsion was all smiles. Standing beside him was the NDA chairman and his colleague for decades, Mr L.K. Advani Mr Singh, who was “stunned by Advaniji’s silence”, when he was summarily expelled from the party for praising Jinnah in his book, Jinnah; India, Partition and Independence was all praise for him. “A few months back, I received a telephone call from Advaniji who asked me if we could meet. Advaniji also suggested if we could treat the chapter as closed,” Mr Singh said in his brief speech. Mr Singh then went on to add that he was “humbled by Advani’s generosity and graciousness.”
BJP chief Nitin Gadkari and Leader of the Opposition Ms Sushma Swaraj were also present to welcome Mr Singh.
Once flayed by Mr Singh for his studied silence during his expulsion, Mr Advani said that he was happy and that with happiness he also felt a sense of relief. Mr Advani said that the BJP will be strengthened by the presence of Jaswant Singh.
As for the Kandahar hijack controversy in which Mr Singh had revealed that Mr Advani was aware of the decision to hand over terrorists for safe return of the hijacked passengers, the former external affairs minister said: “Kandahar is now a closed chapter between me and Advaniji.” Mr Singh, who had held the RSS responsible for his ouster remained silent on the issue.
Welcoming him into the party, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said he looked forward to the presence of Jaswant singh at every party meeting. He also said past is past and wished Jaswant Singh would help in making the party’s future bright.
Jaswant Singh, expressed his gratitude to Mr Advani for having taken the initiative to get him back to the party. Mr Singh also recalled that 44 years back he resigned from the Army and took to politics. He said he is committed to complete the task he had set for himself.
Mr Singh was summarily expelled from the party during the chintan baithak in August 2009, at Shimla for calling Jinnah secular in his book. He also had absolved Jinnah of any role in the Partition and squarely blamed Jawahar Lal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
Post new comment