The Narendra Modi government is finally coming around to the conclusion that there is no point in banning Jaswant Sinhas book on Jinnaha second time. After the Gujarat High Court last week quashed the state notification banning the book,the BJP government had announced that it was reserving the option to enforce another ban on the book. However,on Thursday,highly-placed sources in the State Home Department said the general feeling was that there was no logic in issuing a fresh notification. Besides,many copies of the book have already been in circulation across Gujarat after the HC quashed the ban on September 4, the source said. Contrary to apprehensions of the state government,the adverse comments on Sardar Patel have not triggered any protests or posed any threat to law and order in Gujarat, a senior official reasoned,conceding that there is little ground left for the government to defend the ban in the apex court. When contacted,Additional Principal Secretary to the CM G C Murmu told The Indian Express that he was just not aware of any move to issue a fresh ban notification. I will have to check up with the Home Department, he said. Reacting to the HC order on September 4,Gujarat Government spokesman Jay Narayan Vyas had said,The order of the High Court does not take away the right of the state to come out with a fresh notification giving detailed reasons and explanation on why the book should be banned. This is also under consideration.
