Jaswant Singh

Jaswant Singh

Jaswant Singh (born 3rd January,1938) is an Indian politician and member of Parliament from Darjeeling constituency. He served in the Indian Army, and is an alumnus of Mayo College, Ajmer, and National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla. He served as Finance Minister under Prime Minister Vajpayee for one month in 1996. After Vajpayee became Prime Minister again in 1998, he was appointed Minister for External Affairs. In 2002, he became Finance Minister again. He held the post till 2004, when the Congress replaced the Bharatiya Janata Party as the ruling party. He is described as a liberal democrat, contrary to his party's right wing beliefs. In August of 2009, he was expelled from the BJP for making controversial statements in his book "Jinnah- India, Partition, Independence."

Career:

Jaswant Singh also played an important role when Indian Airlines flight IC 814 was hijacked and flown to Kandahar by Pakistan based terrorist outfit Harkat-Ul-Mujahideen. He escorted three terrorists to Kandahar in Afghanistan, where they were traded for the passengers. However, it later became evident that Singh was merely carrying out instructions as per the all party meeting called by the Indian government.

Possessing an acute sense of history, Jaswant Singh first conceptualized, then initiated and steered a transformation of India’s foreign policy during the period 1998-2004. He also effectively managed the national and international consequences. Being amongst the handful that were architects of India’s Nuclear Doctrine, it is Jaswant Singh again who guided the crafting of policy and a positioning of India as a responsible Nuclear Weapons possessing State. The consequential US sanctions, and global reactions – were all addressed by him with a diplomatic skill that is now recognized universally. Singh is widely regarded for his ability as a negotiator and diplomat. His handling of relations with the United States is particularly commendable. Following the Pokhran II tests in 1998, India's relationship with the United States was strained. President Clinton visited India soon after, and Jaswant Singh was given due credit by his counterpart Strobe Talbott for his tact and intelligence.

Jaswant Singh’s initiatives also led to the Lahore-Delhi Bus Journey, 1999; unfreezing relations with China and launching of bilateral security dialogues with it; successfully steering the 50-day Indo-Pak Kargil War to a conclusion. As Defence Minister, he negated unavailable medical facilities through establishing 284 new polyclinics spread uniformly in the country. Initiated by him, was also a Married Accommodation Project for Defence personnel (for creation of 1,98,000 additional housing units) to be completed in three years.