Rajya Sabha Secretariat

Jaswant Singh (1938-2020) was a prominent Indian politician and former army officer, co-founding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He served as a parliamentarian for decades, holding key ministerial positions including External Affairs, Finance, and Defence under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Singh was recognized for his diplomatic efforts, particularly in managing relations with the United States following India's 1998 nuclear tests. He also faced criticism for his role in the 1999 Kandahar hijack incident. His political career concluded with his expulsion from the BJP in 2014 after he ran as an independent, following internal party disagreements and the publication of a book that caused controversy.

Born in Rajasthan in 1938, Jaswant Singh hailed from a Rajput family. He received his education at Mayo College and the National Defence Academy, subsequently joining the Indian Army in 1957. He served as a Captain and later a Major, participating in the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War. After a decade of service, he retired from the army to enter politics, aligning himself with the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and maintaining ties with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh from the 1960s.

Singh's long parliamentary career began in 1980 when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha. He was a member of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha almost continuously until 2014. During the Vajpayee administration (1998-2004), he held significant cabinet roles, including Minister of External Affairs, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Defence. He was also the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission. As External Affairs Minister, he was instrumental in navigating international relations post-India's nuclear tests, engaging in crucial dialogues with the United States. He was recognized with the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award in 2001.

Following the BJP's electoral defeat in 2004, Singh served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha until 2009. His political trajectory shifted when he circulated a note seeking discussion on the party's defeat, followed by the release of his book, which reportedly contained sympathetic views on Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. This led to his marginalization within the party. In 2014, the BJP did not nominate him for election, prompting him to run as an independent from his native constituency. He was subsequently expelled from the BJP and lost the election. He remained in a coma for six years after suffering a severe head injury in 2014, passing away in 2020.