NEWDELHI: The BJP is carefully avoiding taking a clear stand on the question of banning the controversial book on Mahatma Gandhi. With Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi banning Joseph Lelyveld’s controversial book, ‘Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and his Struggle with India’, BJP leader Jaswant Singh had openly come out to oppose the ban on the book.
Finding itself in a tight spot, the BJP is avoiding taking any stand. Walking the tightrope, the party claimed that it stood for overall freedom of expression, but it also defended the prerogative of a state government to take a decision to ban a book.
At the same time, it refused to recommend to the Centre on banning the book. Consensus seemed to elude the BJP on the stand to be taken. It refused to be drawn into taking a clear stand on the controversial book that cast a slur on Gandhi.
Modi’s decision to ban the book was defended on the ground that since Gandhi hailed from Gujarat, it was Modi’s duty to factor in the sentiments of the people. Modi said the book had hurt the sentiments of those with a capacity for sane and logical thinking and the writer had indulged in the most reprehensible act by hurting the sentiments of millions. “Gandhi is not only the icon for the country but is also the Father of the Nation. A tradition-bound country expects due reverence and respect to him and his persona and also the sensitivity about Gandhiji,” said BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad.