Jaswant heading to Pakistan?
Santosh Joy -
Monday, September 07, 2009 5:31 PM
The big question with BJP leaders these days is if the party's expelled leader Jaswant Singh is heading to Pakistan for the launch of his controversial book 'Jinnah- India, Partition, Independence'.
According to people close to Jaswant Singh, the answer is yes. Jaswant Singh will reportedly reach Pakistan on Sept 26 and will be given a public reception before the unveiling of the book the next day. But Jaswant Singh's son and former party MP Manvendra Singh, has said that his father has no plans to go to Pakistan and has not even applied for a visa. "In any case there is no Pakistani edition of the book," he told a newsperson recently.
In any case, everyone knows who is worried, the main opposition BJP of course. It reminds some party leaders of L K Advani's infamous visit in the aftermath of the 2004 Lok Sabha defeat. (Advani had to resign following his comments on Jinnah). One BJP leader said "This time, Jaswant Singh is an independent man and has no bondage of party rules in any case. So lets expect the worst" .
The BJP feels that any utterance against the party by Jaswant in Pakistan could tarnish the image of the party further.