New Delhi: Expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh
found an ardent supporter in former vice-president Bhairon
Singh Shekhawat on Thursday when the latter praised his book on
Pakistan-founder M A Jinnah and also appeared to reprimand the
party for asking him to quit PAC chairman's post.
"The way Jaswant was treated was not good. After reading
his book, there is a need to praise him...If Jaswant Singh's
book is read carefully, (one would find that) it is worth
praising," Shekhawat told reporters soon after his meeting
with Singh.
"There is a fall in standards in the party. Indiscipline
has increased. According to the people, Jaswant should be with
the party and I am with the people," Shekhawat added.
Singh called on the former BJP leader here.
"I have known him since 1966. I came to enquire about his
health," he said after meeting 86-year-old Shekhawat.
Shekhawat expressed his unhappiness over the state of
affairs in BJP, which has seen internal squabbles and tussle
for leadership after the Lok Sabha poll debacle.
When Singh was asked about BJP's argument that as per
convention the post of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee
(PAC) should remain with the main opposition, Shekhawat
intervened and answered on his behalf, saying, "BJP leaders
should respect Parliamentary conventions and ethics."
On the problems afflicting BJP, Shekhawat said, "Mutual
trust among BJP leaders is decreasing and because of this,
there are fissures in the party."
He said if BJP sought his advice, he will definitely
provide it. "I don't give unsolicited advice."
Singh also extended an invitation to Shekhawat to attend
a rally he is organising in Rajasthan on September 22 and the
latter gave a nod to it.
Both Singh and Shekhawat have a common political foe in
former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
Shekhwat was in the news before the Lok Sabha polls when
he threw a virtual challenge to BJP's Prime Ministerial
candidate L K Advani, saying he was more eligible for the post
due to his seniority.
He had also accused Raje of corruption and held her
responsible for BJP's loss in the assembly polls in the state
late last year.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, September 10, 2009, 15:40