In a double blow for expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh, Gujarat government on Wednesday night banned his controversial book on Jinnah alleging it is an attempt to defame the image of the country's first Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel by "questioning his patrioric spirit".
"Jaswant Singh's book questions 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 who is considered the architect of modern united India," a statement issued by the state government said.
"It is a bid to defame Patel by distorting historical facts," it charged.
"So, the state government has decided to ban the book with immediate effect for wider public interest," it said. "As per the ban, there cannot be sale, distribution or publication of the book in the state," it said.
"The book has been banned because it contains defamatory references regarding Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who is considered as the architect of the modern India," a senior minister in the state government told PTI. The ban on Jaswant's book came after he was expelled from the party.