PIB Says Rajesh Jain Wrote ‘Mann Ki Baat’ Book. Only He Didn’t.

On a TV show, Arun Shourie said, “Rajesh Jain had absolutely nothing to do with this book”.

Speaking to veteran journalist and NDTV’s Managing editor Sreenivasan Jain on his show ‘On Reality Check’, former Union Minister and BJP leader Arun Shourie said, “Rajesh Jain had absolutely nothing to do with this book”.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio addresses to the nation was compiled into a book, ‘Mann Ki Baat: A Social Revolution on Radio’, last year, the author name read Rajesh Jain, a former aide of Modi. Only it wasn’t him who authored the book.

Speaking to veteran journalist and NDTV’s Managing editor Sreenivasan Jain on his show ‘Reality Check’, former Union Minister and BJP leader Arun Shourie said, “Rajesh Jain had absolutely nothing to do with this book. He is my friend, he told me he was dragged into the (book release) function and given a speech to read.”

Rajesh Jain is a technology entrepreneur whose political venture – Niti Digital – was involved in Narendra Modi’s 2014 election campaign.

When The Quint reached out to Rajesh Jain, he said that he had clarified that he was not the author in his speech at the launch itself.

I had also requested the PMO to issue a clarification then.

Rajesh Jain to The Quint

Despite clarifications issued in the past by The Hindu about Jain not being the author of Mann Ki Baat book, the Press Information Bureau site still reflects his name.

A clarification carried by The Hindu

The book which was released at the President’s residence last year contains a comprehensive analysis of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ encompassing its themes and topics.