RSS maintains silence over Jaswant Singh''s expulsion

RSS maintains silence over Jaswant Singh''s expulsionShimla, Aug. 19 : The Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS), the parent body of the BJP, is maintaining its silence over the expulsion of Jawant Singh from the party.

But informed sources in the BJP told ANI that the RSS has played a behind the scene role in Jaswant''s exit.

In fact, before starting off for Shimla, BJP president Rajnath Singh met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and discussed some of the recent acts of "indiscipline" committed by Jaswant Singh, including taking a diametrically opposing view to the party line in his latest book -- "Jinnah - India-Partition-Independence".

Senior BJP leader and political adviser to Rajnath Singh Prabhat Jha told ANI over phone from Shimla that Jaswant Singh was expelled on grounds of indiscipline.

"We have lost ground in the elections. He was such a senior parliamentarian, a member of the core committee and parliament. He should have maintained discipline," Jha said.

When asked whether the RSS had played a role in Singh expulsion, Jha said: "It is the decision of BJP."

Earlier in the day, the BJP parliamentary board decided to axe Singh following the release of his book, which eulogises Jinnah and demeans Sardar Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Singh had also annoyed the party when he objected to the appointment of L. K. Advani and Arun Jaitley as Leaders of Opposition in the lower and upper houses of parliament.

He distributed a note titled Inaam (prize) and Parinam (result)in the party core group meeting in which he reportedly also asked uncomfortable questions and also expressed disappointment over the elevation of junior leaders like Sushma Swaraj to the post of Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Singh confirmed to reporters in SHimla today that he had distributed this paper. (ANI)