BJP Indian variant of Ku Klux Klan: Jaswant

NEW DELHI: Mr Jaswant Singh���s fight with BJP got nastier on Wednesday, when he compared BJP to the Ku Klux Klan ��� violent hate groups in the United States that pledge to further interests of white Americans, and who hate Afro-Americans, Jews, minorities, Catholics and labour unions. Mr Singh said BJP has become a variant of the Klan.

Mr Singh, who was sacked over telephone, once again, expressed his anger over the manner in which he was shown the door. ���Is BJP becoming some kind of an Indian version of Ku Klux Klan,��� he asked.

In an interview to a news agency, the BJP leader was scathing in his attack of Mr L K Advani. The former minister said Mr Advani is surrounded by a coterie and that there was absence of internal democracy in BJP. In his expulsion from the party, he said: ���Please don���t ask me. I am outside the magic circle of advisers or thinkers. Because, I am not from RSS... Is that why? So are we a political party,��� he asked.

Mr Jaswant Singh also said it was time that BJP and Mr Advani himself reflected on their rejection in the last polls. ���It would be impertinent and perhaps, to a degree also, I would be commenting on my past 30 years with him if I commented on his characteristics, political or personal,��� he said.

Mr Singh, who was a ���suspect��� in the eyes of RSS, said BJP should cut its umbilical cord with the Sangh. ���It is for BJP to reflect on it. To gain their full personality as a political organisation, they have to stand on their own feet. Now they should be mature enough to cut the umbilical cord,��� he said.

He did not agree with Mr Arun Shourie���s suggestion that RSS should take over the party saying it will not work. ���I would like BJP to reflect on what has happened and try to be a party of the 21st century. They (the RSS) are exclusivist. Besides, they are an organisation committed to social work,��� he said.

The former minister said the leadership of the BJP does not have the skill to handle the crisis gripping it. ���Do ask them what they intend doing. I see the party daily demonstrating some kind of typical political implosion.���
Mr Singh said the party conducted its affairs differently during Mr A B Vajpayee���s charge. ���He was tolerant, inclusive, accommodative. He absorbed dissidence. He had a very acute understanding of the inner dynamics of the party as indeed of the impulse that keeps India moving,��� he said.