Jaswant snubs BJP again

The BJP's infighting on Monday split into the public sphere. The party's three MPs did not attend a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting which was chaired by their expelled colleague Jaswant Singh.

"I am not bound by the dictatorial commands of a party, the only authority which can remove me is the Speaker," said Jaswant Singh, chairman, PAC.

"Today I again publicly appeal to him to resign, saying that the Speaker has appointed him and he will resign only if the Speaker asks him to and not because the party is asking him to is not a valid reason," said Sushma Swaraj, BJP leader.

It's BJP's war and Parliament is the battleground. Jaswant Singh on Monday ignored the BJP's pleas - and called the first meet of the Public Accounts Committee.

In turn the BJP boycotted the meet.

Yashwant Sinha chose to be in Jharkhand, Gopinath Munde battled the police in Mumbai and Shanta Kumar was in Delhi but stayed home.

"It's definitely a very important committee but if something more important comes up then you have to miss it," said Shanta Kumar, BJP MP and member PAC.

Jaswant Singh is not about to give in. The Speaker can remove him only if he fails to perform as PAC chairman and Jaswant's first PAC meeting was eventful. Five sub-committees were set up to look into 35 subjects.

Since Jaswant is covering his bases, the BJP is desperate.

The PAC is like a super auditor with powers to enforce accountability in government department. In the end Jaswant may win or the BJP may have its way but who will be accountable for the ongoing unsavory skirmish. BJP needs to an internal audit.