Jaswant claims Advani was aware of deal to swap terrorists for hijacked passengers

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Ex-BJP leader insists Advani was aware of deal to swap terrorists for hijacked passengers

By Iftikhar Gilani

NEW DELHI: After setting in perspective the history of Partition, Jaswant Singh is now volunteering information on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its stalwart LK Advani – breaking his silence over the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar.

Jaswant – as external affairs minister at the time – accompanied three terrorists, who were set free in exchange for passengers of the hijacked plane, to Kandahar. There has been a controversy over the issue, with Advani claiming a few years ago that he was not aware of Jaswant’s plane trip to Kandahar with the three dreaded terrorists.

In a televised interview, Jaswant dealt a blow to Advani’s stance of years that he did not know about the exchange and Jaswant’s flight to Kandahar. Breaking his decade-long silence following his exit from the BJP, Jaswant said he “covered up” for Advani when he claimed Advani was not aware of the developments. Jaswant said Advani was aware of the decision to release the terrorists in exchange for the freedom of over 160 hostages. “Yes, he did [know],” he said. Asked why he maintained during an election campaign that Advani did not know about the Kandahar trip and whether he covered up for Advani, Jaswant said, “I’m sorry, I did [that] ... I tried to cover it. I treated it as part of my continuing sense of commitment and loyalty.”

Asked whether he lamented covering up for Advani, Jaswant said, “I don’t regret [it] because it was a step I took. But it was part of an election campaign. How should I put it? I was being very conservative with truth.”

He said Advani could not have been unaware of the decision to fly to Kandahar. “I announced it in the cabinet,” said Jaswant. “How can they (terrorists) be released from prison without the home minister consenting?” he said. Jaswant also made veiled criticism at Advani when he questioned why the aircraft was allowed to leave Amritsar, because once it left, “the game was lost”.

“Who would be responsible for the aircraft leaving Amritsar? For 45 minutes, the aircraft was on the ground in Amritsar. All of you are obsessed with Kandahar ... I went there because 166 lives were involved, and the officers there had asked me to consult if a decision was to be made,” he said. “I went and asked him [later] ‘what do you want me to say now Advaniji’. He said ‘you say whatever you want to’.”

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg7_11