Jaswant Singh: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Indian politician (1938–2020)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Use Indian English|date=September 2022}}{{Infobox officeholder

| name                = Jaswant Singh

| birth_place        = [[Jasol]], [[Rajputana Agency]], [[British India]]<br/>(present-day [[Rajasthan]], India)

| death_place        = [[New Delhi]], India

| party              = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (until 2014)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/former-bjp-leader-jaswant-singh-dead/articleshow/78343032.cms | title=Former BJP leader Jaswant Singh passes away | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=27 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022065458/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/former-bjp-leader-jaswant-singh-dead/articleshow/78343032.cms | archive-date=22 October 2020 | url-status=live | access-date=27 September 2022}}</ref>

| otherparty          = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (2014 – 2020)

| spouse              = {{Marriage|Sheetal Kanwar|1963|2022}}

| serviceyears        = 1957 – 1966

| rank                = [[File:Major of the Indian Army.svg|22px]] [[Major]]

[[Major]] '''Jaswant Singh''' ({{Pronunciation|En-us-Jaswant Singh from India pronunciation (Voice of America).ogg|pronunciation|help=no}}; 3 January 1938{{spnd}}27 September 2020)<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-Union Minister Jaswant Singh Dies At 82. "Saddened By Demise," Says PM|agency=[[NDTV]]|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/former-union-minister-and-bjp-leader-jaswant-singh-dies-at-82-saddened-by-his-demise-tweets-pm-modi-2301608|url-status=live|access-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082335/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/former-union-minister-and-bjp-leader-jaswant-singh-dies-at-82-saddened-by-his-demise-tweets-pm-modi-2301608|archive-date=27 September 2022}}</ref>{{Efn|In {{IPA-gu|જસવંતસિંઘ}} and in {{IPA-hi|jasavant sinh}}.|name=|group=upper-alpha}} was an officer of the Indian Army and an [[Cabinet Minister (India)|Indian Cabinet Minister]]. He was one of the founding members of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|title=Jaswant's expulsion is the BJP's gift to the RSS|work=[[Rediff]]|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/special/jaswants-expulsion-is-the-bjps-gift-to-the-rss/20090820.htm|url-status=live|access-date=5 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225080511/https://www.rediff.com/news/special/jaswants-expulsion-is-the-bjps-gift-to-the-rss/20090820.htm|archive-date=25 December 2022}}</ref> and was one of India's longest serving parliamentarians, having been a member of the [[Lok Sabha]] or the [[Rajya Sabha]] almost continuously between 1980 and 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Dates That Defined the Life and Times of Jaswant Singh (1938-2020)|url=https://thewire.in/politics/jaswant-singh-passes-away-timeline-chronology-minister|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082336/https://thewire.in/politics/jaswant-singh-passes-away-timeline-chronology-minister|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020|website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref> He was NDA's [[Vice president|Vice-presidential]] candidate in the [[2012 Indian vice presidential election]]. Singh was the only leader from [[Rajasthan]] who had the distinction of becoming the Minister Of [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|External Affairs]], [[Minister of Finance (India)|Finance]] and [[Minister of Defence (India)|Defense]].<ref>{{cite web|date=27 September 2020|title=Ex-Union Minister Jaswant Singh No More|url=https://www.pratidintime.com/ex-union-minister-jaswant-singh-no-more/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029222632/https://www.pratidintime.com/ex-union-minister-jaswant-singh-no-more/|archive-date=29 October 2020|access-date=14 October 2020|website=Pratidin Time|language=en-US}}</ref>

Singh incurred the displeasure of his party colleagues when, after the party suffered its second successive defeat in 2009, he circulated a note demanding a thorough discussion on the debacle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/S8lfqLdT14Myzs41RNAnnL/BJP-expels-Jaswant-Singh-over-Jinnah-book.html|title=BJP expels Jaswant Singh over Jinnah book - Livemint|website=www.livemint.com|date=19 August 2009|access-date=5 January 2018|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225080513/https://www.livemint.com/Politics/S8lfqLdT14Myzs41RNAnnL/BJP-expels-Jaswant-Singh-over-Jinnah-book.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Weeks later, a book authored by him was released, in which he was found to have written sympathetically about [[Jinnah]]. Post the event, Singh found himself marginalized within the party. In the elections of 2014, his party decided not to field him from any constituency. He decided to contest anyway as an independent from his native constituency of [[Barmer (Lok Sabha constituency)|Barmer]] (against [[Sona Ram|Col. Sonaram Chaudhary]]) in [[Rajasthan]].<ref>{{cite web|date=29 March 2014|title=Jaswant Singh rules out withdrawal from Barmer Lok Sabha seat|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/jaswant-singh-rules-out-withdrawal-from-barmer-lok-sabha-seat/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330064355/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/jaswant-singh-rules-out-withdrawal-from-barmer-lok-sabha-seat/|archive-date=30 March 2014|access-date=5 January 2021|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref> He was expelled from the BJP on 29 March 2014 when he did not withdraw his independent candidature, and went on to lose the election.<ref>{{cite web|date=29 March 2014|title=BJP expels defiant Jaswant Singh for 6 years|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/bjp-expels-defiant-jaswant-singh-for-6-years/story-MTeBfC5AVL1vInegXvopAI.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329230518/http://www.hindustantimes.com/elections2014/the-big-story/bjp-expels-senior-leader-jaswant-singh-for-six-years/article1-1201960.aspx|archive-date=29 March 2014|access-date=5 January 2021|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=16 May 2014|title=Jaswant Singh loses in Barmer|work=[[Business Standard|Business Standard India]]|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/jaswant-singh-loses-in-barmer-114051601378_1.html|url-status=live|access-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923221920/https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/jaswant-singh-loses-in-barmer-114051601378_1.html|archive-date=23 September 2022}}</ref>

On 7 August 2014, Jaswant Singh suffered a fall in the bathroom of residence and suffered a serious head injury.<ref>{{cite web|date=8 August 2014|title=Jaswant Singh in coma after severe head injury, condition 'highly critical'|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/ex-bjp-veteran-jaswant-singh-injured-in-icu-at-delhi-hospital_953266.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810201617/http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/ex-bjp-veteran-jaswant-singh-injured-in-icu-at-delhi-hospital_953266.html|archive-date=10 August 2014|access-date=8 August 2014|website=[[Zee News]]}}</ref> In June 2020 he was admitted to Army's Research and Referral hospital in Delhi for treatment. He remained in a state of coma for six years till his death in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaswant Singh death news: Former BJP leader Jaswant Singh passes away &#124; India News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/former-bjp-leader-jaswant-singh-dead/articleshow/78343032.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022065458/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/former-bjp-leader-jaswant-singh-dead/articleshow/78343032.cms|archive-date=22 October 2020|access-date=30 December 2020|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=27 September 2020|title=Former Union minister Jaswant Singh passes away at 82|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/former-minister-bjp-leader-jaswant-singh-dead-6617548/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031052406/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/former-minister-bjp-leader-jaswant-singh-dead-6617548/|archive-date=31 October 2020|access-date=31 December 2020|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref>

Singh was born on 3 January 1938 in the village of [[Jasol]] in [[Barmer district]] of Rajasthan in a [[Rajput]] family.<ref>{{cite news|date=28 November 2018|title=In Rajasthan, Jaswant Singh's Son Banks On Rajput Anger, Father's Legacy|work=[[NDTV]]|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-rajasthan-jaswant-singhs-son-banks-on-rajput-anger-fathers-legacy-1954657|url-status=live|access-date=23 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811230101/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-rajasthan-jaswant-singhs-son-banks-on-rajput-anger-fathers-legacy-1954657|archive-date=11 August 2022}}</ref> His father was Sardar Singh Rathore of Jasol and mother was Kunwar Baisa. Singh was married to Sheetal Kanwar.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Biographical Sketch of Member of XI Lok Sabha|url=http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:T-SKcSfG0r0J:loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/552.htm&hl=en&gl=us&strip=1&vwsrc=0|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082434/http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3AT-SKcSfG0r0J%3Aloksabhaph.nic.in%2Fwritereaddata%2Fbiodata_1_12%2F552.htm&hl=en&gl=us&strip=1&vwsrc=0|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020|website=[[Lok Sabha]]}}</ref> They had two sons. His elder son, [[Manvendra Singh]], is a former Member of Parliament from [[Barmer (Lok Sabha constituency)|Barmer]].<ref>{{cite web|date=16 July 2012|title=Jaswant Singh [Biography] BJP Leader|url=https://matpal.com/2012/07/jaswant-singh-biography-bjp-leader.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722230601/http://www.matpal.com/2012/07/jaswant-singh-biography-bjp-leader.html|archive-date=22 July 2012|access-date=31 December 2020|website=Matpal|language=en-CA}}</ref> He was an officer in the [[Indian Army]] in the 1960s and was an alumnus of [[Mayo College]] and the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]], Khadakwasla.<ref>{{cite web|date=27 September 2020|title=RIP Jaswant Singh: Ex-Army Officer, Outstanding Parliamentarian|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/former-union-minister-jaswant-singh-passed-away-foreign-defense-finance-minister|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082338/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/former-union-minister-jaswant-singh-passed-away-foreign-defense-finance-minister|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020|website=[[TheQuint]]|language=en}}</ref>

After his education from the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]], he was enrolled in the [[Indian Army]] in the year 1957 and was designated to the position of the [[Captain]] of the [[Central India Horse]] unit of allegiance. And he was also a participant of [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] and was the commander of his unit and was the [[Major]] at the time of [[Sino-Indian border dispute]] of the year 1965 after which he retired from the [[Indian Army]] in the next year, 1966 to join politics after serving the Armed forces for 10 years.<ref>{{cite web|date=27 September 2020|title=Jaswant Singh dead: From key figure in Vajpayee govt to BJP rebel|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jaswant-singh-dead-6617567/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022153045/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jaswant-singh-dead-6617567/|archive-date=22 October 2020|access-date=15 October 2020|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=27 September 2020|title=Jaswant Singh's tumultuous career was marked by revival of India-US ties, ignominy of Kandahar hijacking - India News, Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/jaswant-singhs-tumultuous-career-was-marked-by-revival-of-india-us-ties-ignominy-of-kandahar-hijacking-8856201.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101184316/https://www.firstpost.com/india/jaswant-singhs-tumultuous-career-was-marked-by-revival-of-india-us-ties-ignominy-of-kandahar-hijacking-8856201.html|archive-date=1 November 2020|access-date=15 October 2020|website=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref> He was a close accompany of [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]] and made his links with [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]].<ref>{{cite web|date=27 September 2020|title=Jaswant Singh: Former Army Major and ex-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 'Man Friday'|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/rip-jaswant-singh-former-army-major-and-ex-pm-atal-bihari-vajpayees-man-friday-2312753.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021050249/https://zeenews.india.com/india/rip-jaswant-singh-former-army-major-and-ex-pm-atal-bihari-vajpayees-man-friday-2312753.html|archive-date=21 October 2020|access-date=15 October 2020|website=[[Zee News]]|language=en}}</ref> He was a member and associate of [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] from the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|date=19 August 2009|title=RSS must also introspect about their organisation: Jaswant|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/rss-must-also-introspect-about-their-organisation-jaswant/story-IpqrAoZP5nCjW3j4UCWDWO.html|access-date=31 December 2020|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Vladimir Putin with Jaswant Singh-1.jpg|thumb|248x248px|Singh with Russian Prime Minister [[Vladimir Putin]]]]In the government of [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|Vajpayee]], Singh was External Affairs Minister, and later went on to become the Finance Minister.<ref>{{cite web|last=Saxena|first=Sparshita|date=27 September 2020|title=Leaders across party lines condole former Union minister Jaswant Singh's demise|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/leaders-across-party-lines-condole-former-union-minister-jaswant-singh-s-demise/story-W5ceHi24GSXjDQ9D5KVVlL.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228012036/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/leaders-across-party-lines-condole-former-union-minister-jaswant-singh-s-demise/story-W5ceHi24GSXjDQ9D5KVVlL.html|archive-date=28 December 2020|access-date=31 December 2020|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en}}</ref> He was also the Defence Minister when [[George Fernandes]] was forced to resign after the [[Tehelka]] exposure.<ref>{{cite web|date=26 March 2001|first1=Harinder|last1=Baweja|first2=Raj|last2=Chengappa|title=Post-Tehelka scandal, George Fernandes hands over his resignation letter|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20010326-post-tehelka-scandal-george-fernandes-hands-over-his-resignation-letter-775472-2001-03-26|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082408/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20010326-post-tehelka-scandal-george-fernandes-hands-over-his-resignation-letter-775472-2001-03-26|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020|website=[[India Today]]|language=en}}</ref>

Singh has been frequently criticized by political parties for escorting terrorists to [[Kandhahar]], [[Afghanistan]]. They were released by the Government of India in exchange for passengers from the hijacked [[IC 814|Indian Airlines flight IC 814]].<ref>{{cite news|date=28 July 2006|title=I am bewildered: Jaswant|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/28/stories/2006072820621700.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=29 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818165611/http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/28/stories/2006072820621700.htm|archive-date=18 August 2022}}</ref>

Singh was denied a [[Member of Parliament]] ticket for [[Barmer (Lok Sabha constituency)|Barmer]] by [[BJP]] for the [[2014 Indian general election]] over [[Sona Ram|Col. Sonaram Choudhary]]. Unhappy, Singh filed his nomination as an [[Independent (politician)|independent]] candidate from Barmer constituency.<ref>{{cite web|date=24 March 2014|title=Defiant Jaswant takes on Modi, dares BJP to sack him|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/highlights/story/jaswant-singh-quits-bjp-to-contest-from-barmer-independent-186070-2014-03-24|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324141040/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jaswant-singh-quits-bjp-to-contest-from-barmer-independent/1/350982.html|archive-date=24 March 2014|access-date=31 December 2020|website=[[India Today]]|language=en}}</ref> Subsequently, he was expelled from BJP for six years<ref>{{Cite news|title=General elections 2014: Senior leader Jaswant Singh expelled from BJP for six years|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/general-elections-2014-senior-leader-jaswant-singh-expelled-from-bjp-for-six-years/articleshow/32922162.cms|url-status=live|access-date=31 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330095658/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/general-elections-2014-senior-leader-jaswant-singh-expelled-from-bjp-for-six-years/articleshow/32922162.cms|archive-date=30 March 2022}}</ref> and lost the election.<ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite news|date=17 May 2014|title=Election Results: Jaswant goes down fighting in Barmer|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Election-Results-Jaswant-goes-down-fighting-in-Barmer/articleshow/35233048.cms|url-status=live|access-date=17 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519203131/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Election-Results-Jaswant-goes-down-fighting-in-Barmer/articleshow/35233048.cms|archive-date=19 May 2022}}</ref>

Singh entered politics in the 1960s, with the first few years of his political life seeing limited recognition, until he was initiated in the [[Jan Sangh]]. He tasted success in his political career in 1980 when he was first selected for the [[Rajya Sabha]], the upper house of Indian parliament.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Dates That Defined the Life and Times of Jaswant Singh (1938-2020)|url=https://thewire.in/politics/jaswant-singh-passes-away-timeline-chronology-minister|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082339/https://thewire.in/politics/jaswant-singh-passes-away-timeline-chronology-minister|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020|website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref> He served as [[Finance Minister of India|Finance minister]] in the short-lived government of [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]], which lasted just from 16 May 1996, to 1 June 1996. After Vajpayee became Prime Minister again two years later, he became [[Minister for External Affairs]] of India, serving from 5 December 1998 until 1 July 2002.<ref name=":3" /> Responsible for [[foreign policy]], he dealt with high tensions between India and [[Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite web|date=28 September 2020|title=Jaswant Singh, advocate of peace with Pakistan, dies at 82|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1581964|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004155346/https://www.dawn.com/news/1581964|archive-date=4 October 2020|access-date=5 January 2021|website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|DAWN.COM]]|language=en}}</ref> In July 2002 he became Finance Minister again, switching posts with [[Yashwant Sinha]]. He served as Finance Minister until the defeat of the Vajpayee government in May 2004 and was instrumental in defining and pushing through the market-friendly reforms of the government.<ref>{{cite web|date=27 September 2020|title=Jaswant Singh's illustrious political legacy— A snapshot|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/jaswant-singhs-illustrious-political-legacy-a-snapshot-893642.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082343/https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/jaswant-singhs-illustrious-political-legacy-a-snapshot-893642.html|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020|website=[[Deccan Herald]]|language=en}}</ref> He was conferred the [[Outstanding Parliamentarian Award]] for the year 2001.<ref>{{cite web|date=27 September 2020|title=RIP Jaswant Singh: Ex-Army Officer, Outstanding Parliamentarian|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/former-union-minister-jaswant-singh-passed-away-foreign-defense-finance-minister|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082349/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/former-union-minister-jaswant-singh-passed-away-foreign-defense-finance-minister|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020|website=[[TheQuint]]|language=en}}</ref> On 19 August 2009, he was expelled from BJP after criticism over his remarks in his book which allegedly praised the founder of [[Pakistan]] in his book ''[[Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence|Jinnah – India, Partition, Independence]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Jaswant Singh expelled from BJP|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/jaswant-singh-expelled-from-bjp/articleshow/4910265.cms|url-status=live|access-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082400/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/jaswant-singh-expelled-from-bjp/articleshow/4910265.cms|archive-date=27 September 2022}}</ref> His last major position was as [[Leader of the Opposition (India)|Leader of Opposition]] in the [[Rajya Sabha]] from 2004 to 2009.<ref name=":3" />

Jaswant Singh held many ministries under the government of [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]], including several important such as [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Defence]], [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|External Affairs]] and [[Ministry of Finance (India)|Finance]].{{Efn|Under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Singh handled key ministries such as Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Finance.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/former-union-minister-jaswant-singh-passes-away-at-82-news-updates/2092632/|last=Sherwani|first=Affa Khanum|author-link=Arfa Khanum Sherwani|title=Former union minister Jaswant Singh passes away at 82|website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003033034/https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/former-union-minister-jaswant-singh-passes-away-at-82-news-updates/2092632/|archive-date=3 October 2020|access-date=14 October 2022}} [https://thewire.in/tag/jaswant-singh Alt URL]</ref>|name=|group=upper-alpha}} He has also held many important positions including that of Electronics and Science and Technology.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|title=Jaswant Singh passes away: Full list of positions held by the former Union Minister|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/jaswant-singh-passes-away-full-list-of-positions-held-by-the-former-union-minister|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082426/https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/jaswant-singh-passes-away-full-list-of-positions-held-by-the-former-union-minister|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020|website=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:The Union Finance Minister Shri Jaswant Singh entering Parliament to present Interim General Budget in New Delhi on February 03, 2004.jpg|thumb|left|371x371px|Jaswant Singh in Parliament to present Interim budget.]]Singh remained as the [[Minister of Finance (India)|Minister of Finance]] in the short-lived government of [[First Vajpayee ministry|First Vajpayee government]] from 16 May 1996 to 1 June 1996. In the short-lived government where he was Minister for just 24 days and there was also economic difficulty, a crisis due to the political instability, and there was a loss of employment similar to the [[1991 Indian economic crisis]] which lead to the decline in the value of [[Indian currency]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Saxena|first=Shweta Chandan|date=March 2003|title=Rise and fall in Indian Economy (1991-2000)|url=https://www.imf.org/External/Pubs/FT/staffp/2002/03/pdf/cerra.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830184013/https://www.imf.org/External/Pubs/FT/staffp/2002/03/pdf/cerra.pdf|archive-date=30 August 2020|access-date=15 October 2020|website=[[IMF]]}}</ref> It was followed by the instability after the fall of [[Narsimha Rao|Narsimha Rao government]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Agrawal|first=Amol|date=24 February 2018|title=Banking crises: An Indian history|url=https://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/fjheowjLjiFNsGcjzVZXsO/Banking-crises-An-Indian-history.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043146/https://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/fjheowjLjiFNsGcjzVZXsO/Banking-crises-An-Indian-history.html|archive-date=9 November 2020|access-date=14 October 2020|website=[[Mint (newspaper)|mint]]|language=en}}</ref> After this there was a 1996 Bank Scam after this the fall of Atal Bihari Government automatically Singh was removed from the position and succeeded to [[P. Chidambaram]] for the position.<ref>{{cite web|title=Former chairman of Indian Bank gets 3-yr jail in fraud case|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2019/jun/12/former-chairman-of-indian-bank-gets-3-yr-jail-in-fraud-case-1989137.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702004608/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2019/jun/12/former-chairman-of-indian-bank-gets-3-yr-jail-in-fraud-case-1989137.html|archive-date=2 July 2020|access-date=14 October 2020|website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref>

After [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] becomes the [[Prime Minister of India]] for the second time in the year 1998, then Singh was appointed as the [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of External Affairs]] and succeeded [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] himself for the position.<ref>{{cite web|last=Malhotra|first=Jyoti|date=27 September 2020|title=Jaswant Singh — communicator, crisis manager, man of letters and a student of history|url=https://theprint.in/politics/jaswant-singh-communicator-crisis-manager-man-of-letters-and-a-student-of-history/511468/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127023650/https://theprint.in/politics/jaswant-singh-communicator-crisis-manager-man-of-letters-and-a-student-of-history/511468/|archive-date=27 November 2020|access-date=14 October 2020|website=[[ThePrint]]|language=en-US}}</ref> He was at that time first [[Rajasthani people|Rajasthani]] to be a [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of External Affairs of India]] at [[Union Council of Ministers|Union level]] in the [[Central Government of India|Central Government]].{{Efn|Jaswant Singh Was The Only Leader From Rajasthan Who Had The Distinction Of Becoming The Minister Of External Affairs.<ref>{{cite web|date=28 September 2020|title=जसवंत सिंह राजस्थान के एक मात्र ऐसे नेता रहे, जिन्हाेंने विदेश, वित्त और रक्षा मंत्री बनने का गौरव प्राप्त किया|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/rajasthan/jaipur/news/jaswant-singh-was-the-only-leader-from-rajasthan-who-had-the-distinction-of-becoming-the-minister-of-external-affairs-finance-and-defense-127760121.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016055208/https://www.bhaskar.com/local/rajasthan/jaipur/news/jaswant-singh-was-the-only-leader-from-rajasthan-who-had-the-distinction-of-becoming-the-minister-of-external-affairs-finance-and-defense-127760121.html|archive-date=16 October 2020|access-date=14 October 2020|website=[[Dainik Bhaskar]]|language=hi}}</ref>|name=|group=upper-alpha}} Singh has been one of the most trusted man of [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|Vajpayee]] and was given task of making good international relation with other nations.<ref>{{cite web|date=27 September 2020|title=Jaswant Singh: An astute politician and Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 'Man Friday'|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jaswant-singh-an-astute-politician-and-atal-bihari-vajpayee-s-man-friday-2845679|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015065614/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jaswant-singh-an-astute-politician-and-atal-bihari-vajpayee-s-man-friday-2845679|archive-date=15 October 2020|access-date=30 December 2020|website=[[Zee News|DNA India]]|language=en}}</ref> He has been represented [[India|nation]] at international level in the times of [[Kargil War]] and [[Smiling Buddha|India's nuclear test]]. He was the one who went to [[Kandahar]] after plane hijack.<ref>{{cite web|title=I Began To Change|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/i-began-to-change/231929|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115132403/https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/i-began-to-change/231929|archive-date=15 November 2017|access-date=14 October 2020|website=[[Outlook India]]}}</ref> He remained Minister till 5 December 2002 after the removal of [[George Fernandes]] due to the [[Tehelka]] conspirancy. As the Minister of External Affairs he launched the first free-trade agreement (with [[Sri Lanka]]) in South Asia's history, initiated India's most daring diplomatic opening to [[Pakistan]], revitalized relations with the US, and reoriented the Indian military, abandoning its Soviet-inspired doctrines and weaponry for close ties with the West.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hebbar|first=Nistula|date=27 September 2020|title=Jaswant Singh {{!}} A soldier-turned-politician bids adieu|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jaswant-singh-a-soldier-turned-politician-bids-adieu/article32707147.ece|url-status=live|access-date=15 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227060037/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jaswant-singh-a-soldier-turned-politician-bids-adieu/article32707147.ece|archive-date=27 December 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

[[File:Vladimir Putin in India 2-5 October 2000-1.jpg|thumb|241x241px|Singh meeting [[Vladimir Putin]] in 2000.]] [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]], came to power in [[1998 Indian general election|1998 general elections]] with an exclusive [[Exclusive mandate|public mandate]]. BJP's political might had been growing steadily in strength over the past decade over several issues.<ref>{{cite web|title=India's Nuclear Weapons Program - Operation Shakti: 1998|url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/India/IndiaShakti.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108060901/http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/India/IndiaShakti.html|archive-date=8 November 2020|access-date=14 October 2020|website=nuclearweaponarchive.org}}</ref> At that time after the successful test of the Second Nuclear Bomb it was considered a masterstroke by the government, it was said that Singh along with [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] and [[George Fernandes]] were the one who played the important role in the functioning.{{Efn|The triumvirate consisted of Prime Minister [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|A B Vajpayee]], Defence Minister [[George Fernandes]] and Jaswant Singh. There were a handful more, politicians and scientists, who were in the know of the top-secret mission which was code-named, ‘Operation Shakthi’.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.siasat.com/jaswant-singh-had-played-a-key-role-in-pokhran-1998-nuclear-test-1985450/|title=Jaswant Singh had played a key role in Pokhran 1998 nuclear test|website=The Siasat Daily|access-date=15 October 2020|date=28 September 2022}}</ref>|name=|group=upper-alpha}} He was the one of the member of "Operation Shakti" and among the 12 people who knew about the secret mission.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gupta|first=Shekhar|author-link=Shekhar Gupta|date=11 May 2018|title=Pokhran anniversary: How India pulled a fast one on the Americans|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/pokhran-anniversary-how-india-pulled-a-fast-one-on-the-americans/57607/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130120522/https://theprint.in/opinion/pokhran-anniversary-how-india-pulled-a-fast-one-on-the-americans/57607/|archive-date=30 November 2020|access-date=14 October 2020|website=[[ThePrint]]|language=en-US}}</ref> His most essential role came into existence after there were made international pressure on the nation due to the secrecy of the mission when [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] made a public announcement for the mission.<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC News {{!}} india nuclear testing {{!}} Third World joins the nuclear club|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/events/asia_nuclear_crisis/analysis/92783.stm|access-date=14 October 2020|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> At that time strong criticism was drawn from Canada on India's actions and its [[List of Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Canada|High Commissioner]]. [[Economic sanctions|Sanctions]] were also imposed by Japan on India and consisted of freezing all new loans and grants except for humanitarian aid to India.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Haidar|first=Suhasini|date=31 August 2014|title=East meets Far East|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/east-meets-far-east/article6365598.ece|access-date=14 October 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=3 April 2012|title=Japan lifts India, Pakistan sanctions - CNN|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2001-10-26/world/japan.sanctions_1_pakistan-sanctions-pakistan-and-india-nuclear-testing?_s=PM:asiapcf|access-date=14 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403005307/http://articles.cnn.com/2001-10-26/world/japan.sanctions_1_pakistan-sanctions-pakistan-and-india-nuclear-testing?_s=PM:asiapcf|archive-date=3 April 2022}}</ref> Some other nations also imposed sanctions on India, primarily in the form of suspension of [[:Category:Foreign aid to India|foreign aid]] to India and government-to-government credit lines. However, the United Kingdom, France, and Russia refrained from condemning India.<ref>Charan D. Wadhwa (27 June – 3 July 1998). "Costs of Economic Sanctions: Aftermath of Pokhran II". ''Economic and Political Weekly''. '''33''' (26): 1604–1607. {{JSTOR|4406922}}.</ref> The biggest affect was on the relations of India with United States and there were made many restrictions on India and at that time Singh managed to control America at [[United Nations]].<ref>Dittmer, L., ed. (2005). ''South Asia's nuclear security dilemma: India, Pakistan, and China''. Armonk, NY: Sharpe. {{ISBN|978-0-7656-1419-3}}.</ref>

After the [[Kargil War]] and the win of [[Indian Army|Indian Armed forces]] in July 1999 the use of [[Weapon of mass destruction|WMD]] led to a serious pressure of the world on India and this was led by the anger of United States against India due to [[Pokhran-II|Pokhran-II Nuclear test series]] and supported in the favour of Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|last= Malik|first=V. P.|title=When Jaswant Singh got angry during Kargil war|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/sep/28/when-jaswant-singh-got-angry-during-kargil-war-2202771.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028050442/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/sep/28/when-jaswant-singh-got-angry-during-kargil-war-2202771.html|archive-date=28 October 2020|access-date=15 October 2020|website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> At that time Singh was the one who represented India at the international level and had made many interviews with news channels and also made diplomatic talks with leaders and representatives of the United States], China, France, and many other nations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rediff On The NeT Special: Jaswant Singh looks back at the Kargil conflict|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jul/28jas.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727032855/https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jul/28jas.htm|archive-date=27 July 2020|access-date=15 October 2020|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref> After that Singh made an interview with [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] in which to strengthening the position of [[Government of India|Indian Government]] there was a release of a leaked conversation of [[Pervez Musharraf]] in which he admitted that he was involved in the attack on India in [[Kargil district]] in 1999 and that he also planned an attack to kill [[Nawaz Sharif]] and become the [[President of Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Rediff On The NeT: Excerpts of the conversation between Gen Musharraf and Lt Gen Aziz|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jun/11talk.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108181513/https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jun/11talk.htm|archive-date=8 November 2019|access-date=15 October 2020|website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> This was known to be a masterpiece and led to a very strong point resulting in the India's diplomatic relations and proving the burden of war on General Musharraf.<ref>{{cite web|title=Release of Kargil tape: Masterpiece or blunder?|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jun/27raman.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018143530/https://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jun/27raman.htm|archive-date=18 October 2020|access-date=15 October 2020|website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> After that India was freed from allegations of the [[Kargil War]].{{Sfn|Singh||p=38}}

The terrorists of [[Taliban]] hijacked the [[Indian Airlines Flight 814]] on 24 December 1999 on the [[Tribhuvan International Airport]] of [[Kathmandu, Nepal]]. The motive for the hijacking apparently was to secure the release of [[Islamist]] figures held in prison in India. The hostage crisis lasted for seven days and ended after India agreed to release three militants – [[Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar]], [[Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh]], and Mulana [[Masood Azhar]].<ref>{{cite web|date=15 July 2002|title=Omar Sheikh sentenced to death in Pearl murder case|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/15pak.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017033416/https://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/15pak.htm|archive-date=17 October 2020|access-date=15 October 2020|website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dhawan |first1=Himanshi |title=ISI backed Kandahar hijackers: Plane crisis negotiator Ajit Doval |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/isi-backed-kandahar-hijackers-plane-crisis-negotiator-ajit-doval/articleshow/56558139.cms |access-date=23 April 2022 |work=The Economic Times |date=12 July 2022}}</ref> This hijack was also helped by [[Dawood Ibrahim]] and [[Al-Qaeda]] linked [[Jihadism|Jihadis]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Riedel|first=Bruce O.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ULgk7_oWB1EC&pg=PA58|title=Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America, and the Future of the Global Jihad|date=2012|publisher=Brookings Institution Press|isbn=978-0-8157-2274-8|language=en}}</ref> Then after too much suggestions and pressure then [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] agrees on the demand of the hijackers of [[Taliban]] and sends [[Ajit Doval]] in [[Kandahar]] and after that Vajpayee decided to send Singh as he was the one of the most trusted man. He was sent to [[Kandahar]] of [[Afghanistan]] to escort the terrorists and take back the crew members.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Jaswant flying with terrorists was not good idea: Kandahar negotiator|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/jaswant-flying-with-terrorists-was-not-good-idea-kandahar-negotiator/articleshow/5386396.cms|url-status=dead|access-date=15 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018191915/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/jaswant-flying-with-terrorists-was-not-good-idea-kandahar-negotiator/articleshow/5386396.cms|archive-date=18 October 2022}}</ref> It was also said that Singh has made a secret talks with [[Taliban]] Foreign Minister [[Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil]] and made an agreement of 3 terrorists in exchange of 170 crew members including men, women and children.<ref>{{cite web|last=Singh|first=Omkar|date=21 July 2006|title=Jaswant Singh's version of the Kandahar hijack|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jul/21onkar1.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729074630/https://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jul/21onkar1.htm|archive-date=29 July 2019|access-date=15 October 2020|website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> Later terrorists also demanded 900 crores rupees and 36 other terrorists, but somehow it was denied.{{Sfn|Singh||p=76}} On 31 December 1999 on New Year of 2000 all 176 were released and they all landed to [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Venkatesan|first1=V.|last2=Subramanian|first2=T. S.|date=8 December 2000|title=An eight-day ordeal|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article30253146.ece|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016221548/https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article30253146.ece|archive-date=16 October 2020|access-date=15 October 2020|website=Frontline|language=en}}</ref>

The incident is seen as a failure of the [[BJP]] government under Prime Minister [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] and IB chief [[Ajit Doval]] said that India would have had a stronger negotiating hand if the aircraft had not been allowed to leave Indian territory.<ref>{{cite web|last=Iqbal|first=Aadil Ikram Zaki|date=24 December 2015|title=Kandahar Hijack: Revisit story of five terrorists bringing India on its knees|url=https://www.india.com/news/india/kandahar-hijack-revisit-the-story-of-five-terrorists-bringing-india-on-its-knees-trading-176-lives-for-3-terrorists-810146/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112032628/https://www.india.com/news/india/kandahar-hijack-revisit-the-story-of-five-terrorists-bringing-india-on-its-knees-trading-176-lives-for-3-terrorists-810146/|archive-date=12 November 2020|access-date=15 October 2020|website=India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News {{!}} India.com|language=en}}</ref> Doval, the IB chief, who led the four-member negotiating team to Kandahar, described the whole incident as a "diplomatic failure" of the government in their inability to make the US and UAE use their influence to help secure a quick release of the passengers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaul|first=Sumir|date=24 December 2009|title=IC-814 was India's 'Diplomatic Failure': Doval|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/ic-814-was-indias-diplomatic-failure-doval/671686|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017231033/https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/ic-814-was-indias-diplomatic-failure-doval/671686|archive-date=17 October 2020|access-date=15 October 2020|website=[[Outlook India]]}}</ref> Singh also received criticism for praising the Taliban for their co-operation after the hostages had been returned.<ref>{{cite web|title=Failure of diplomacy|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article30253144.ece|access-date=15 October 2020|website=Frontline|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 010406-D-9880W-020.jpg|thumb|242x242px|left|jaswant Singh having talks on Defence on 6 April 2001, along with [[Donald H. Rumsfeld]].]]

Singh was appointed as the [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence of India]] in the year 2000 after minister before him, [[George Fernandes]] was convicted in the [[Tehelka as Metaphor|Tehelka case]] and was forced to resign from his position.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 September 2020|title=Former cabinet minister, founding member of BJP, Jaswant Singh dies at 82|work=[[Business Standard|Business Standard India]]|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/former-defence-minister-jaswant-singh-passes-away-at-82-pm-pays-condolence-120092700129_1.html|url-status=live|access-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103070702/https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/former-defence-minister-jaswant-singh-passes-away-at-82-pm-pays-condolence-120092700129_1.html|archive-date=3 November 2022}}</ref> He remained as the Minister from 2000 to 2001 after which [[George Fernandes|Fernandes]] was re-appointed as the [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]] after getting cleanchit in the conspiracy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaswant Singh|url=https://www.indiainfoline.com/finance-ministers-of-india/jaswant-singh|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704084821/http://www.indiainfoline.com/finance-ministers-of-india/jaswant-singh|archive-date=4 July 2017|access-date=29 December 2020|website=India Infoline}}</ref> After that in the year 2002 he was re-appointed as the [[Minister of Finance (India)|Minister of Finance of India]] in the [[Vajpayee Government]].<ref>The [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|Vajpayee's]] ji re-appointment as [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] was a new thing and a new dawn of democracy and also chances for the new outcomes.({{Harvard citation no brackets|Singh|pp=256–258}})</ref>

After returning of [[George Fernandes]] as the Defence Minister for the second time after getting cleanchit in [[Tehelka]] case, Singh was appointed as the [[Minister of Finance (India)|Union Minister of Finance]] in 2002 and remained till 2004 after the [[Vajpayee Government]] lost the 2004 General Election and passed the position to [[P. Chidambaram]]. In his reign of 2 years for the second time he has been known to make market-friendly reforms in the [[Economy of India]] and due to his good diplomatic skills and good relations with other nations from the times when he was the [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of External Affairs]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Finance Ministers who shaped India's economy - Pillars of Indian economy|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance-ministers-who-shaped-indias-economy/jaswant-singh-2002-2004/slideshow/67521663.cms|access-date=15 October 2020|website=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref>

In late 2002 and 2003 the government pushed through economic reforms.<ref>{{cite web|title=India's economy grows 8.2% in 2020-2004|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-06/30/content_344346.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611095603/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-06/30/content_344346.htm|archive-date=11 June 2009|access-date=17 October 2020|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> Due to the good administration of Jaswant Singh the country's GDP growth exceeded 7% every year from 2003 to 2007, following three years of sub-5% growth.<ref>{{cite web|title=GDP growth (annual %) - India {{!}} Data|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=IN|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818052213/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=IN|archive-date=18 August 2018|access-date=17 October 2020|website=[[World Bank]]}}</ref> Increasing foreign investment, modernisation of public and industrial infrastructure, the creation of jobs, a rising high-tech and IT industry and urban modernisation and expansion improved the nation's international image. Good crop harvests and strong industrial expansion also helped the economy.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rai|first=Saritha|date=1 April 2004|title=India's Economy Soared by 10% in Last Quarter of 2003 (Published 2004)|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/01/business/india-s-economy-soared-by-10-in-last-quarter-of-2003.html|url-status=live|access-date=17 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818022529/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/01/business/india-s-economy-soared-by-10-in-last-quarter-of-2003.html|archive-date=18 August 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The rate of stock growth under him as the Finance Ministry was  also at the one of the highest point in the [[Indian Economic Growth]] groth history under the period of two years of his ministry and the Inflation rate was also very much good in the period of the two years.<ref>{{cite web|date=14 April 2010|title=World Economy Situation|url=http://biblioteca.hegoa.ehu.es/downloads/14021/%2Fsystem%2Fpdf%2F944%2FWorld_Economic_Situation_and_Prospects_2004.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929213534/http://biblioteca.hegoa.ehu.es/downloads/14021/%2Fsystem%2Fpdf%2F944%2FWorld_Economic_Situation_and_Prospects_2004.pdf|archive-date=29 September 2020|access-date=17 October 2020|website=Bibliotecha}}</ref> From 2002 to 2004, the [[economy of India]] was one of the fastest growing in the world and one of the leading agricultural nations and second most output after [[China]].<ref>{{cite web|date=16 November 2011|title=Investing In Health For Economic Development |url=http://who.int/macrohealth/action/sintesis15novingles.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907070136/http://who.int/macrohealth/action/sintesis15novingles.pdf|archive-date=7 September 2020|access-date=10 October 2020|website=Macro Health}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Indian Agriculture|url=http://www.ficciagroindia.com/indian-agriculture/indian-agriculture.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225074057/http://www.ficciagroindia.com/indian-agriculture/indian-agriculture.htm|archive-date=25 February 2008|access-date=17 October 2008|website=[[FICCI]]}}</ref>

== Positions and offices ==<!-- Don't add any other electoral history or position. -->

Jaswant Singh was appointed as the [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of Parliament of Rajya Sabha]] for the fourth time in the year 1999 and after the formation of the [[Vajpayee Government]] he was appointed as the [[Leaders of Rajya Sabha|Leader of Rajya Sabha]] on 13 October 1999 and remained till the time of fall of the Vajpayee Government on 22 May 2004 and succeeded the position to then [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]], [[Manmohan Singh]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Rajya Sabha-Former Leader of House|url=https://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/whoswho/former_leader_of_house.asp|url-status=live|archive-url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/552.htm|archive-date=23 December 2017|access-date=5 November 2020|website=[[Rajya Sabha|rajyasabha.nic.in]]}}</ref> In the time period Jaswant Singh held many crucial positions and ministries and before that he was previously serving in the position of [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of External Affairs of India]] at [[Union Government ministries of India|Union Government]] and in this period he served as [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]] and [[Minister of Finance (India)|Finance]].{{Efn|Jaswant Singh positions from 1999 to 2004 as the [[Leader of the House (Rajya Sabha)|Leader of Rajya Sabha]];

After the [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|Vajpayee's]] government fell down and after that Singh who was earlier a [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of Parliament]] from [[Rajya Sabha]] from the state of [[Rajasthan]] was appointed as the Leader of Opposition of [[Rajya Sabha]] and hold the position for a time period of 5 years from 2004 to 2009.<ref>{{cite web|last=Srivastava|first=Rajaram|date=28 September 2020|title=Jaswant Singh: An erudite liberal, democratic from aristocratic background - The News Now|url=http://www.thenewsnow.co.in/newsdet.aspx?q=115916|url-status=live|archive-url=http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:8UjXhrRTlr8J:www.thenewsnow.co.in/newsdet.aspx%3Fq%3D115916+&cd=32&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=in|archive-date=2 November 2020|access-date=5 November 2020|website=www.thenewsnow}}</ref> The mastermind of [[Rajasthan]], [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]] when was appointed as the [[Vice President of India]] and at that time Singh took the responsibility of strengthening the party in [[Central Government of India|Central level]] and main focus in the state of [[Rajasthan]].<ref>{{cite web|date=27 September 2020|title=Jaswant Singh: A soft-spoken former Army officer, astute politician|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/obituary/jaswant-singh-a-soft-spoken-former-army-officer-astute-politician|url-status=live|archive-url=https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:_z4GGyGizOMJ:https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/obituary/jaswant-singh-a-soft-spoken-former-army-officer-astute-politician+&cd=35&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=in|archive-date=4 November 2020|access-date=5 November 2020|website=[[National Herald]]|language=en}}</ref> After the fall of [[National Democratic Alliance]] in the year 2004 and the weakening of senior-[[BJP]] leaders like [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]], [[Murli Manohar Joshi]], [[Lal Krishna Advani]] and the politics of other big leaders like [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]] in central level, Singh as the leader of Opposition shifted his politics for the strengthening of the [[BJP|party]] in ground roots and in state levels in states of [[Western India]] such as [[Gujarat]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and specially [[Rajasthan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=BJP not fit to govern India: Jaswant Singh|url=http://www.coastaldigest.com/bjp-not-fit-govern-india-jaswant-singh|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111000430/http://www.coastaldigest.com/bjp-not-fit-govern-india-jaswant-singh|archive-date=11 November 2020|access-date=5 November 2020|website=coastaldigest.com - The Trusted News Portal of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Tyagi|first=Hiralal|date=28 September 2020|title=Outlook India Photo Gallery - Jaswant Singh|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/photos/people/jaswant-singh/1494|url-status=live|archive-url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/jaswant-singh-passes-away-prez-pm-pay-tributes/1943925|archive-date=29 September 2020|access-date=5 November 2020|website=[[Outlookindia]]}}</ref> Under this period Singh also served many non political position in the [[Indian government]] remaining as the leader of Opposition including: "Member of Committee for General purposes (from 2005-2006)", "Member, Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests (from August 2004 to August 2004)" and "Member of Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Installation of Portraits/Statues of National Leaders and Parliamentarians in Parliament House Complex (August 2004{{Spaced en dash}}May 2009)".<ref name=":2" /> After that then he was expelled from the party.[[File:Shri Jaswant Singh filing the nomination papers for the Vice Presidential election, at Parliament, in New Delhi on July 20, 2012. The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Smt. Sushma Swaraj and other dignitaries are also seen.jpg|thumb|241x241px|Jaswant Singh submitting nomination papers for [[Vice President of India]], along with [[Sushma Swaraj]](left) and [[L K Advani]](backward).]]

He was the candidate for the post of [[Vice President of India|Vice president]] for the NDA in 2012. Singh had filed his nomination papers on 20 July in the presence of [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] coalition leaders.<ref>{{cite web|date=3 August 2012|title=Ansari may write to MPs of UPA and supporting parties|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ansari-may-write-to-mps-of-upa-and-supporting-parties-1723691|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925014327/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_ansari-may-write-to-mps-of-upa-and-supporting-parties_1723691|archive-date=25 September 2015|access-date=30 December 2020|website=[[Zee News|DNA India]]|language=en}}</ref> Three sets of papers- one each by [[L. K. Advani]], [[Sumitra Mahajan]] and [[Yashwant Sinha]], supporting Singh's candidature were submitted to the returning officer Viswanathan. His candidature was announced by the NDA on 16 July.<ref>{{cite web|date=16 July 2012|title=Jaswant Singh to give stature to vice-president poll contest|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jaswant-singh-to-give-stature-to-vice-president-poll-contest-1715752|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925014616/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_jaswant-singh-to-give-stature-to-vice-president-poll-contest_1715752|archive-date=25 September 2015|access-date=30 December 2020|website=[[Zee News|DNA India]]|language=en}}</ref> He meet [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] leader [[Jayalalithaa]] and [[Naveen Patnaik]] of [[Biju Janata Dal]] on 6 August asking them to support his candidature. He lost to [[Hamid Ansari]] who was the UPA's [[Vice President of India|Vice presidential]] candidate.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-16/india/32697388_1_nda-meeting-nda-candidate-hamid-ansari| title=Jaswant Singh to challenge Hamid Ansari test Vice-President's post| date=16 July 2012| access-date=3 July 2013| archive-date=24 December 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224123953/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-16/india/32697388_1_nda-meeting-nda-candidate-hamid-ansari| work=[[The Times of India]]| url-status=dead}}</ref> In the Election he got 238 seats and received 32.69% of the votes, while [[Hamid Ansari]] got 490 seats and received 67.31% of the votes.<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 Vice-Presidential Election|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/Current/PN03072012.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009192734/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/Current/PN03072012.pdf|archive-date=9 October 2017|access-date=15 October 2020|website=[[Election Commission of India]]}}</ref>

* A controversy erupted immediately after the release of his book, ''"A Call to Honour,"'' in which Singh insinuated that a mole had existed in the Prime Ministerial Office during the tenure of [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]], who had leaked information to U.S. sources about India's nuclear tests. Soon after, Indian Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] challenged him to name the mole. In response, Singh sent a letter to him. The letter, Manmohan Singh said later, had no signature, and no name of any mole. Jaswant Singh then backed off, saying his views on the subject were based on a "hunch".<ref>{{cite web|date=7 August 2006|title=The mole has taken its toll|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/the-mole-has-taken-its-toll/story-0FxH3pPSGiCsVHizbBPfkO.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082416/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/the-mole-has-taken-its-toll/story-0FxH3pPSGiCsVHizbBPfkO.html|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=26 July 2006|title=Spy in the cold: Jaswant backtracks on mole statement - Indian Express|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/spy-in-the-cold-jaswant-backtracks-on--mole-/9296/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082416/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/spy-in-the-cold-jaswant-backtracks-on--mole-/9296/|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020|website=archive.indianexpress.com}}</ref>

* Controversy hovered around him again when on 17 August 2009 another book authored by him, entitled ''[[Jinnah: India-Partition-Independence]]'', was released. In this he praised [[Mohammad Ali Jinnah]] and claimed that the centralised policy of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] was responsible for Partition.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nehru not Jinnah's polity led to partition|publisher=Jai Bihar|url=http://jaibihar.com/nehru-patel-conceded-pakistan-to-jinnah-jaswant/11301/|url-status=dead|access-date=19 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822004045/http://jaibihar.com/nehru-patel-conceded-pakistan-to-jinnah-jaswant/11301/|archive-date=22 August 2022}}</ref> He was later expelled from the primary membership of BJP as a result of the ensuing controversy.<ref>{{cite news|date=19 August 2009|title=Jaswant Singh expelled over Jinnah remarks|publisher=Jai Bihar|url=http://jaibihar.com/jaswant-singh-expelled-over-jinnah-remarks/11454/|url-status=dead|access-date=19 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821162128/http://jaibihar.com/jaswant-singh-expelled-over-jinnah-remarks/11454/|archive-date=21 August 2022}}</ref> In interviews with media he quoted BJP as narrow-minded and to have limited thought. In 2010, he was readmitted to BJP.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.samaylive.com/nation/676466702.html |title=Jaswant returns to BJP |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627073915/http://english.samaylive.com/nation/676466702.html |archive-date=27 June 2010 }}</ref>

== Death ==

In June 2020, Singh was admitted to the Delhi's Army ( and was being treated for [[sepsis]] with multi-organ dysfunction syndrome and effects of a severe head injury he suffered as a result of a fall in 2014. On 27 September he suffered cardiac arrest. Singh died at the age of 82 years.<ref name="NDTV">{{cite web|last1=Sharma|first1=Akhilesh|date=27 September 2019|title=Ex-Union Minister Jaswant Singh Dies At 82. "Saddened By Demise," Says PM|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/former-union-minister-and-bjp-leader-jaswant-singh-dies-at-82-saddened-by-his-demise-tweets-pm-modi-2301608|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082335/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/former-union-minister-and-bjp-leader-jaswant-singh-dies-at-82-saddened-by-his-demise-tweets-pm-modi-2301608|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020|website=[[NDTV]]}}</ref><ref name="TimesofIndia920">{{cite web|date=27 September 2020|title=Former BJP leader Jaswant Singh passes away|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/former-bjp-leader-jaswant-singh-dead/articleshow/78343032.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082419/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/former-bjp-leader-jaswant-singh-dead/articleshow/78343032.cms|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=27 September 2020|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Raj|first=Naresh Kumar|others=PTI|date=27 September 2020|title=Former Union Minister Jaswant Singh passes away|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-union-minister-jaswant-singh-passes-away/article32707106.ece|url-status=live|access-date=3 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003183818/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/former-union-minister-jaswant-singh-passes-away/article32707106.ece|archive-date=3 October 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> His death was triggered as a sign of honour and was mourned with full esteem and with state funeral.<ref>{{cite web|last=Singh|first=Harsha Kumari|date=28 September 2020|title=Jaswant Singh Cremated In Jodhpur, Family, Leaders Pay Last Respects|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jaswant-singh-funeral-jaswant-singh-cremated-in-jodhpur-family-leaders-pay-last-respects-2301787|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006211155/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jaswant-singh-funeral-jaswant-singh-cremated-in-jodhpur-family-leaders-pay-last-respects-2301787|archive-date=6 October 2020|access-date=3 November 2020|website=[[NDTV|NDTV.com]]}}</ref> His last rites were done by his son [[Manvendra Singh]] and was cremated in [[Jodhpur]], [[Rajasthan]] with full [[Hindu rites|Hindu rituals]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 September 2020|title=Former cabinet minister, founding member of BJP, Jaswant Singh dies at 82|work=[[Business Standard|Business Standard India]]|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/former-defence-minister-jaswant-singh-passes-away-at-82-pm-pays-condolence-120092700129_1.html|url-status=live|access-date=17 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103070702/https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/former-defence-minister-jaswant-singh-passes-away-at-82-pm-pays-condolence-120092700129_1.html|archive-date=3 November 2022}}</ref> Due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]] only family members were present and very few relatives. [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]] reacted on his death stated that "Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics. During [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|Atal Ji's]] Government, he handled crucial portfolios and left a strong mark in the worlds of [[Minister of Finance (India)|Finance]], [[Minister of Defence (India)|Defence]] and [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|External affairs]]. Saddened by his demise"<ref name="Service">{{cite web|date=3 October 2020|title=Jaswant Singh: A worthy scholar, soldier, and politician|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/jaswant-singh-a-worthy-scholar-soldier-and-politician-147675|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031085604/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/jaswant-singh-a-worthy-scholar-soldier-and-politician-147675|archive-date=31 October 2020|access-date=17 October 2020|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee is being presented with a PAN card by the Finance Minister Shri Jaswant Singh and Chairman CBDT Shri P.L. Singh, in New Delhi on January 24, 2004.jpg|thumb|237x237px|Jaswant Singh with [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] and P. L. Singh in [[New Delhi]] on 24 January 2004.]]

* {{Cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Jaswant|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/antarctica-the-most-interactive-ice-air-ocean-environment/oclc/1181908479|title=Antarctica|last2=Dutta|first2=H. N.|year=2011|isbn=978-1611228151|location=[[New Delhi]], [[India]]|oclc=1181908479}}

* {{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Jaswant|url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/till-memory-serves-victoria-cross-winners-of-india/oclc/132681691|title=Till Memory Serves: Victoria Cross Winners|publisher=Rupa & Co|year=2007|isbn=9788129111159|location=[[New Delhi]], [[India]]|oclc=132681691}}

{{refbegin|}}* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4B2wDQAAQBAJ&q=jaswant+singh+central+india+horse&pg=PA39 |title=In Service of Emergent India: A Call to Honour |author=Jaswant Singh |date=21 September 2007 |isbn=9780253028006 |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082335/https://books.google.com/books?id=4B2wDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39&dq=jaswant+singh+central+india+horse&source=bl&ots=nNqgYWRuQd&sig=ACfU3U1WyMDbNLCBXJZc2HzIHnCNu6RZQQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHoJ2XvtHgAhWJto8KHVgcDrQ4ChDoATAFegQIBBAB#v=onepage&q=jaswant%20singh%20central%20india%20horse&f=false |url-status=live |ref={{SfnRef|Singh}}}}

* {{Cite book |last=Rana |first=Mahendra Singh |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/India_Votes/yInZdHn-pKoC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Manvendra+Singh&pg=PA382&printsec=frontcover |title=India Votes: Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha Elections 2001-2005 |publisher=Swarup & Sons |year=2006 |isbn=9788176256476 |pages=383–398 |ref={{SfnRef|Rana and Singh}}}}

* {{Cite book |last=Talbott |first=Strobe |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Engaging_India/Z708iXbcrNkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Jaswant+Singh&printsec=frontcover |title=Engaging India |publisher=[[Brookings Institution|Brookings Institution Press]] |year=2010k |isbn=9780815721253 |ref={{SfnRef|Talbott |2022}} |author-link=Strobe Talbott}}

* {{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Manvendra |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Campaign_Diary/lyM7JZcyOisC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Manvendra+Singh&printsec=frontcover |title=Campaign Diary |publisher=[[Rupa Publications]] |year=2013d |isbn=9788184759839 |location=[[Barmer district|Barmer]], [[Rajasthan]] |author-link=Manvendra Singh}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Rajya Sabha]] [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Rajasthan|Rajasthan]] |years=1998-2022}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Darjeeling (Lok Sabha constituency)|Darjeeling]]|years=2009-2022}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the House (Rajya Sabha)|Leader of Rajya Sabha]]|years=1998-2022}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of External Affairs]]|years=1998-2022}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]]|years=2022}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Finance (India)|Minister of Finance]]|years=2002-2022}}

{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Opposition (India)#Leaders of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha|Opposition leader of Rajya Sabha]]|years=2004-2022}}

[[Category:India MPs 1989–1991]]

[[Category:India MPs 1991–1996]]

[[Category:India MPs 1996–1997]]

[[Category:India MPs 2009–2014]]

[[Category:The Darling Foundation Prize laureates]]