I want to forget Kandahar. Such incidents shouldn't happen: Jaswant Singh

Eyebrows were raised when Jaswant Singh chose to fight the Lok Sabha elections from Darjeeling instead of his home-state Rajasthan. But in less than a month, the BJP leader has made this hilly terrain home. Nattily dressed in Gorkha attire, Singh talked to MiD DAY Delhi's Chief Reporter Amit Kumar on issues ranging from the Kandahar controversy to Varun Gandhi's hate speech on his way to Darjeeling from Siliguri

Let me ask you something you have been asked many times before. But since it's still an issue, especially during election time, would you accept that Kandahar was a mistake?
We had to choose between two unwanted options. The NDA government decided to save the lives of 150 passengers on board the hijacked plane. I must make it clear that members of the Congress party who have been blaming the NDA government for Kandahar were protesting in front of 7, Race Course Road (the Prime Minister's residence) seeking the release of the hijacked passengers. Manmohan Singh, on behalf of the Congress, had attended the all-party meet over the issue where the decision was taken.

But because of Kandahar, the Congress today is making fun of your election slogan 'strong leader, decisive government'.
I want to ask the leaders of the Congress party, if they were in power at that time what would they have done? Is it right to raise the same issue repeatedly? I can also raise issues of Rubiya Syed and Char-e-Sharif, when the Congress had served them (terrorists) chicken dishes for a week and offered them free passages. Now the Prime Minister is saying he will revive the economy of the country in the next 100 days after coming into power. I want to ask him was he sleeping during the last 100 days?

Is Kandahar something you want to forget?



Of course, I do. Such incidents should not happen. But we must see them in proper light. We can't keep bringing up Kandahar. I am sad that the Congress has kept on talking about it. It was Congress leaders who insisted that the passengers be brought back safely. At times, their criticism is truly beyond belief.

Coming back to the BJP, Arun Shourie has endorsed Narendra Modi as the next PM? What do you have to say about it?
He is my esteemed colleague. It would be unfair on my part to comment on what he has said. It's best to ask him.

What is the real issue for the BJP-Hindutva, development or security?
Gorkhaland is the real issue. Development is the real issue. Roads are the real issue. So is drinking water in a place like Darjeeling. It's not just physical infrastructure but social infrastructure as well that needs to be looked into.

What about Varun Gandhi's hate speech? Do you think the Election Commission was biased against him?
I think he is wrongly charged. Without proving any of the charges against him, he was kept in jail. There was no justice.

You were caught on camera distributing money. The Election Commission has even served you a notice.
There was no distribution of money. The Election Commission is entitled to demand an explanation from me. I have sent them an explanation. They said they are dropping the matter by giving me a warning.

Why did you choose to fight from Darjeeling of all places?
It was my destiny to be here. In fact, this time I had decided not to contest. But Advaniji said all senior leaders should contest. The people of Chittorgarh and Jodhpur wanted me to contest from their constituencies, but I thought people will say I always contest from Rajasthan as I belong there. Meanwhile, leaders of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha met Advaniji and requested him to field a senior leader from Darjeeling. I thought it is home to the Gorkhas who ensure the safety of the entire nation, and this would be a great opportunity to serve them.

What about the Gorkhaland issue? Are you for Gorkhaland?
Yes, I support their demand of forming a new Gorkhaland state. During the Vajpayee regime, we had constituted three new states Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh. Small states are better administered.

Who do you think is better suited to be the PM, LK Advani or Manmohan Singh?
There can be no comparison between the two. You can't compare a leader to a civil servant. Manmohan Singh served his entire life as a government servant. Even today, he is doing a job for 10 Janpath. Advaniji is in public life in multiple capacities since the last 50 years.

How will you balance between Rajasthan and Darjeeling?
Why can I not serve both my janmabhumi and karmabhumi.

Finally, why is there so much infighting within the BJP at election time? Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh were openly fighting.
I won't comment on that.