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NEWS HEADLINES

BJP EXPELS JASWANT SINGH OVER JINNAH REMARKS (AUG 19, 2009, TIMES OF INDIA)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday expelled senior leader Jaswant Singh from the primary membership of the party two days after the release of his book praising Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. BJP president Rajnath Singh told reporters here that the party’s parliamentary board decided to expel the former external affairs minister from the primary membership of the party. "Yesterday, I issued a statement about the BJP dissociating itself from Jaswant Singh’s views. The party discussed the matter at the chintan baithak (introspection session) and it was decided to expel him," Rajnath Singh said.

BJP had on Tuesday dissociated itself from the book written by Jaswant Singh praising Mohammad Ali Jinnah, saying the "painful" part of history cannot be wished away for which the Pakistan founder was responsible. "Views expressed by Jaswant Singh in his book ‘Jinnah – India, Partition, Independence’ does not represent views of the party. In fact, the party completely dissociates itself from the contents of the book," party chief Rajnath Singh told reporters here.

In his book, Jaswant Singh has held Jawaharlal Nehru responsible for the partition of India and Jinnah has been "demonised" in India. Rajnath Singh underlined that Jinnah had played an important role in "division of India which led to a lot of dislocation and destabilisation of millions of people". "It is too well known we cannot wish away this painful part of our history," he said.

He also took objection to ridiculing of Sardar Vallabhai Patel by Jaswant Singh, saying the first Home Minister played a historic role in unification and consolidation of India amidst serious threats to its unity and integrity. "The entire country remains indebted and proud of all the profound vision, courage and leadership of Patel," he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4910077.cms

MODI GOVT BANS BOOK, SAYS ITS A BID TO TARNISH SARDAR IMAGE (AUG 20, 2009, INDIAN EXPRESS)

BJP-ruled Gujarat tonight banned Jaswant Singh’s book Jinnah – India, Partition, Independence, claiming it defamed the image of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The move came hours after Singh’s expulsion from the party. Confirming that sale and import of the book had been banned with immediate effect across the state, Gujarat government spokesperson Jay Narayan Vyas said a notification to this effect was being issued.

"Sardar Patel’s contribution in the creation of modern India is very well known. Any reference to the contrary, showing Sardar in bad light, is not acceptable to Gujarat," Vyas said, justifying the ban on the book.

A statement issued by the state government said: "Jaswant Singh’s book questions the role of Sardar Patel during the Partition of India as well as his patriotic spirit. This is an attempt to tarnish the image of Patel."

http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/504250/

JASWANT UNPLUGGED: ADVANI STOPPED VAJPAYEE FROM ACTING AGAINST MODI (AFTER THE RIOTS) (AUG 22, 2009, INDIAN EXPRESS)

Expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh today revealed that it was L K Advani who blocked action against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the 2002 riots warning that any such move would create a "bawaal (commotion)" in the party. "We (Advani, Arun Shourie and Jaswant along with Vajpayee) were in the aircraft (on the way to Goa for a BJP meeting) as Vajpayeeji had asked us to discuss few things