Jaswant pilgrimage has halt at Jinnah tomb

The pilgrims will take the land route to Hinglamata, crossing through the newly-opened Khokrapar-Munnabao line and going by road through Sindh before reaching Baluchistan.

But overshadowing the pilgrimage, for the media, was Singh’s declaring his intention of taking in the Jinnah mausoleum in Karachi during his week-long visit. ‘‘Just as people coming here from other countries visit Mahatma Gandhi’s samadhi, I will certainly go to the Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum,’’ Singh said.

When it was pointed out that Advani’s visit to the mausoleum and his remarks in Jinnah’s praise had created a furore in the Sangh Parivar, Singh said,‘‘I don’t think it will lead to any controversy. I am going on a pilgrimage.’’

Asked about his proposed book on Jinnah, Singh said it would be ‘‘a political biography’’. And, in a comment that is likely to upset Sangh hardliners, he added ‘‘We need not shut the doors and windows of our minds.’’

He also profusely praised Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf as well as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for facilitating the pilgrimage, which will take place after a gap of several decades.

Without Musharraf’s ‘‘personal intervention and interest’’, the pilgrimage would not have been possible. ‘‘In providing this chance, both President Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have contributed to creating history.’’

Asked if he had discussed his visit with other BJP leaders, Singh said, ‘‘My visit is not a secret. I have been working on this for the past 18 months.’’

But, while BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar refused to comment on the matter, the Sangh Parivar is believed to be concerned over the implications of the tour. Whispers about Singh’s being replaced by Murli Manohar Joshi as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha could grow louder in light of the Pakistan visit, BJP insiders fear.