Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), after expelling senior leader Jaswant Singh over his praise for Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah in his new book ‘Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence’, on Monday reportedly asked him to step down from the post of chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj today called on Jaswant Singh at his residence here and apprised him of the party’s view on him continuing as the PAC chief. Jaswant was appointed to the post less than a month ago, at the behest of the BJP.
Only after Jaswant steps down from the post can the BJP nominate its another member for the same.
BJP leaders are of the view that Jaswant was made PAC chairman when he was part of the BJP and should now quit since his association has ended.
The 22-member Public Accounts Committee is constituted by Parliament each year for examination of accounts showing the appropriation of sums granted by Parliament for expenditure of Government of India.
The Committee is also authorised to examine the annual finance accounts of Government of India, and such other Accounts laid before Parliament as the Committee may deem fit such as accounts of autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies.
Sushma Swaraj, the deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, met the expelled BJP leader along with SS Ahluwalia. This is the first time a senior BJP leader has met Jaswant Singh since his expulsion from the BJP. Jaswant had met former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the latter’s residence after being sacked from the party of which he remained a member for 30 years.
Today’s meeting came amid reports that the BJP may re-instate Jaswant Singh following the RSS suggesting the BJP to take everyone on board in reviving the party. However, this was not to be.
Jaswant Singh, 71, was expelled from the party on August 19, two days after the launch of his book on Jinnah, that eulogised Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Since his expulsion, the party has been witnessing serious strife with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat summoning BJP leaders at different levels for one-on-one discussion on a change of guard – virtually taking charge of the crisis-ridden party.
First Published: Monday, August 31, 2009, 17:22