Yashwant joins Brajesh, says Advani knew of Kandahar swap

NEW DELHI: Senior party leader Yashwant Sinha on Thursday contested L K Advani's contention that he was not aware of Jaswant Singh going to Kandahar during 1999 hijacking incident, saying the decision in this regard was taken at a meeting in which the then home minister was present.

"All of us, including Advani, were present at the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)... The meeting decided that three terrorists should be released and Jaswant Singh should travel to Kandahar to take any decision on the spot," Sinha, the then finance minister, said.

"We are all party to that decision," he said while recalling that the CCS meeting had taken place on December 31, 1999.

Advani, the then home minister, has been maintaining that he was not aware why Jaswant Singh went to Kandahar where the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 was parked.

Emphasising his point, Sinha said there was no need for confusion over the issue as decisions of the Cabinet, including those of the CCS, are recorded and maintained.

Asked why Advani was speaking on the contrary and whether he should come out with factual position, he said "I cannot speak on his behalf."

Sinha, however said "things should be clarified" and "truth should be spoken".

He said that the hijacking incident was a national issue, concerning security of the country, and not a party matter.