The expelled BJP leader, Jaswant Singh, on Tuesday rejected the BJP’s demand that he step down as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), saying a decision could be taken only by the Lok Sabha Speaker.
“I am not. This cannot be a decision the party can take because the determination of the post and the decision are that of the Lok Sabha Speaker and not of a political party,” he said, replying to a question by journalists on the Supreme Court premises. His remarks come a day after senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj conveyed to him the party’s wish that he step down as PAC chairman.
Mr. Singh scotched speculation on his returning to the BJP. “You don’t have to worry about it. The roads are closed,” he said, when asked about the possibility of his going back to the party.
Asked about the ban on his book on Jinnah in Gujarat, Mr. Singh said senior BJP leader L.K. Advani and party president Rajnath Singh should have discussed the contents with him before deciding to expel him.
Brushing aside allegations of plagiarism, he said some mistakes were pointed out, and these would be rectified in the next edition.
The court issued notice to the Narendra Modi government on Mr. Singh’s petition challenging the ban.
