To silence BJP, Arjun refers to Advani’s Jinnah remark

Recalling the Constituent Assembly debates on the issue, Singh said that after the Partition of the sub-continent, India’s political leadership sought to assure the minorities that their interests would always be protected in a secular India. Article 30 embodied that assurance, as a result of which there were more Muslims in India today than in Pakistan. Though he made no direct attack on saffron politics, BJP members were visibly angry at the mention of Partition and its aftermath. While moving his amendment to the bill, BJP leader V K Malhotra hit out at the Congress for its alleged role in dividing the country.

‘‘It is the Congress party which is responsible for Partition. Congress leaders betrayed the nation,’’ he declared, adding that while Mahatma Gandhi had said Partition would take place only over his dead body, the Congress agreed to Partition because they wanted power at any cost.

When BJP members persisted in jeering the Congress and asked him to spell out who was responsible for Partition, Singh shot back: ‘‘Jisne Partition karvaya usko secular banane ke liye aap ke neta gaye Pakistan’’ (Your leader went to Pakistan to render secular the person who was responsible for Partition.) With Advani slated to step down as BJP chief within the next fortnight—the RSS objected to his declaring Jinnah secular—no party member rose to counter Singh.