Publisher releases 5,000 copies of Jaswant Singh's book in Gujarat

New Delhi, Sep 5 (ANI): The publishers of expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh's controversial book "Jinnah: India, Partition -Independence" have released about 5,000 copies to the markets in Gujarat, on Saturday.

Delhi based Rupa and Company the publisher of the book succeeded in sending these many copies within 24 hours of revoking the ban put by the Gujarat Government.

The Gujarat High Court, on Friday revoked the ban put on the book by the Narendra Modi led government.

Gujarat Government banned the book on August 19, within two days after its release saying, the book might create communal disturbances in the state and was also derogatory of India's first Home Minister of India Sardar Vallabhai Patel.

The chairman of Rupa and Company R. K. Mehra said that there has been a tremendous demand for the book. The publishing house has sent the books to Baroda, Ahmedabad and other cities of the state.

Mehra added that over 1,000 copies each were sent by air from New Delhi and Mumbai as soon as they came to know about the High Court's decision.

The remaining copies have been sent on Saturday by train. The Gujarati translation of the book would soon hit the stands in the state, he said.

In its decision the High Court observed that the government's notification violated the fundamental rights of citizen.

Reacting to the judgment an elated Jaswant Singh had said he was thrilled and felt vindicated but voiced his dismay at courts having to intervene in the matter.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to the Gujarat Government on a petition filed by Singh the challenged the ban.

Not only intellectuals, but people from different strata of society have also shown an interest in the book, in which Singh has praised Jinnah and described him as a leader who had strong faith in united India, while blaming Sardar Patel for the partition in 1947. (ANI)