Wish my colleagues had read the book: Jaswant

"I wish those commenting on my book had bothered to read it," laments Jaswant Singh.

Describing his book as lengthy, Jaswant Singh said he doubts that BJP leaders had enough time to read the 700-page book between its release and the beginning of the party's Chintan Baithak in Shimla.

"I have no relationship with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh," he said in response to allegations that it's the RSS who is seriously offended by his criticism of Sardar Patel in his book. He also said he's unclear on which comments on Sardar Patel have offended the BJP.

Singh described Gujarat's ban on his book as sad, a move that "shuts the door on thought in India".

He pointed out that he had supported L K Advani's rights to share his opinion of Jinnah. Four years ago, Advani's description of Jinnah as a secular leader created a huge controversy. Singh says both Advani and party president Rajnath Singh knew he was writing a book on Jinnah. He clarified that they asked him to postpone the book's release twice: once before the state elections, and then again before the general elections.

Jaswant described the BJP as "khokli (soul-less). The former external affairs minister held his press conference as soon as he reached Delhi from Shimla, where he was expelled yesterday. "I feel like a school boy expelled for bad behavior", he joked, and said he's looking forward now to a calming cup of tea at home. But, he cautioned, "I have always been in public life, and that's where I'm staying".