At the BJP’s “chintan baithak” (brainstorming session) in Shimla last week, though the decision to expel Jaswant Singh was unanimous, only Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi wanted Mr. Singh’s book banned.
A senior leader, who was among 24 leaders participating in the “baithak,” told The Hindu that he warned the party against banning Mr. Singh’s book, but Mr. Modi was adamant saying that otherwise it would become a major issue and the party would have to face the music. Mr. Modi disclosed that he had asked his government to issue a ban order.
However, after some discussion, the view of those against the ban carried the day and the Chief Ministers of other BJP-ruled States were told not to follow Mr. Modi in banning the book.
As a result of that decision, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh stated that they have no plan to ban the book.
Party stand
It was pointed out at the meeting that a ban by all BJP-ruled States would send a wrong message that the party was illiberal and it would also go against the party’s own stand on earlier instances of books being banned, including the banning of Salman Rushdie’s TheSatanic Verses by the Congress. At that time, the BJP described the ban as part of the Congress’ “appeasement” of Muslim fundamentalist sentiments.
Those present at the “baithak” also said that for the first time, after Mr. Modi emerged as the saffron hero winning elections in his State after the 2002 riots, it was clearly spelt out that he had failed to make any positive impact on the party’s electoral prospects by his campaigning outside Gujarat.
Mr. Modi is believed to have angrily pointed out that he campaigned outside Gujarat at the request of the central party and only where the State units had demanded that he be sent to their areas.
