Gandhi, not brainwashed Jinnah, responsible: Ex-chief of RSS

NEW DELHI: If all the controversies surrounding views of top BJP leaders on Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah was not enough, former RSS chief K S Sudarshan came out with his views on the man.

According to Mr Sudarshan, Pakistan���s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah was ���brainwashed��� by the British into demanding a separate state for Muslims. He blamed Mahatma Gandhi for India���s Partition and said that if he had remained adamant, like he did on granting Rs 500 crore for formation of Pakistan, Partition would not have taken place.

After attending a function organised by a Sangh outfit in Indore, Mr Sudarshan said Jinnah was committed to an undivided and unified India until he was ���brainwashed���

He said: ���Jinnah had many qualities. He also remained associated with Lokmanya Tilak and was totally committed to an undivided and unified India. It was the British who after his return from England in 1927 brainwashed Jinnah and prompted him to demand a separate state for Muslims.���

Mr Sudarshan elaborated: ���Had Gandhi remained adamant, like when he was on giving huge funds to Pakistan at the time of its formation, Partition would not have taken place. He, however, did not do so mainly because Nehru was his weakness.���

Mr Sudarshan���s comments assume significance in the wake of BJP sacking its senior leader Jaswant Singh for his book in which he has praised Jinnah and blamed the country���s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and first home minister Sardar Patel. On Jaswant Singh���s expulsion, Sudarshan only said: ���It is an internal matter of the party.���