Expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh on Monday said he had opposed L.K.Advani’s ‘Rath Yatra’ to Ayodhya. “ I had expressed my opposition to the move at the party’s executive meeting, but was voted out,” he said while talking to reporters here.
“I had also opposed BJP’s alliance with Shiv Sena and told Atalji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) that I would not participate in Sena meetings,” said Singh. On both occasions, the party had shown narrowness in its ideology and behaviour, he added.
He said if the BJP wanted to rise and stand as a big party, it would have to change its attitude. Asked if he would join any other party or constitute a forum, Singh said he had no such plan. He also ruled out his return to the BJP saying now that he had been ousted, there was no question of looking back.
Asked whether any BJP leader had approached him to come back, he said no. “ I also hardly bother for these things. I will continue pursuing my goal for development of India,” he added.
On the reported pressure on him by the BJP to step down as chairman of the Lok Sabha's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Singh said, “ The question does not arise, as the post has not been bestowed upon me as dowry by the BJP.” I was made chairman of the PAC by the Speaker and I would continue occupying it,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}On the reported pressure on him by the BJP to step down as chairman of the Lok Sabha's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Singh said, “ The question does not arise, as the post has not been bestowed upon me as dowry by the BJP.” I was made chairman of the PAC by the Speaker and I would continue occupying it,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}Justifying his comments on Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the former BJP leader said he would not budge an inch on the issue and strive hard to narrow the gap between Hindus and Muslims.
Asked would he quit the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat, as he had won it as a BJP nominee, Singh replied in negative.
Replying to another query should India and Pakistan reunite, he said, “ It depends on the citizens of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.”