New Delhi: Amid the ongoing political controversy in Punjab and senior party leader Kapil Sibal raising questions over the delay in the election of party president, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Thursday said that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting will be held very soon after the demands of G. Will be called 23 leaders.
Surjewala said, a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) will be convened soon after the demand of the G-23 leaders.
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Questioning the delay in the election of party president, Sibal had earlier on Wednesday said that the Congress is in a position where it should not be.
“There is no president in our party. So we don’t know who is taking this decision. We know and yet we don’t know,” he said at a press conference.
Meanwhile, several Congress G-23 leaders, who wrote to party chief Sonia Gandhi last year demanding organizational reforms, strongly condemned the attack on Sibal’s residence on Thursday, terming it an “orchestrated hooliganism”.
Senior Congress leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad, P. Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Manish Tewari and Shashi Tharoor extended their support to Sibal.
Condemning the “orchestrated hooliganism” at Sibal’s residence, Azad said in a tweet: “I strongly condemn the planned hooliganism at Kapil Sibal’s residence last night. He is a loyal Congressman both inside and outside Parliament. Fighting for the party. Instead of suppressing hooliganism, any suggestion from any side should be welcomed.”
Chidambaram, on his part, said he feels helpless when we cannot initiate meaningful dialogue within party forums.
“I feel helpless when we are unable to initiate meaningful dialogue within the party forums. I also feel sad and helpless when I see pictures of Congress workers shouting slogans outside the residence of a colleague and MP. The safe harbor from which one can go back appears to be silent,” he wrote on the micro-blogging platform.
Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda also echoed similar sentiments and said that “orchestrated hooliganism” outside Sibal’s residence last night is “not Congress culture”.
“The hooliganism orchestrated outside @KapilSibal’s residence last night is not Congress culture. If anyone has any difference of opinion, it should be brought to the party platform and discussed.”
Sharma, on his part, said he was “shocked and disappointed to hear the news of the attack and hooliganism” at Sibal’s residence.
“Shocked and disappointed to hear about the attack and hooliganism at Kapil Sibal’s house. This condemnable action defames the party and should be strongly condemned,” he tweeted.
Stating that the Congress has a history of upholding freedom of expression, Sharma identified those responsible and should be disciplined.
“The responsible should be identified and disciplined. Urging Congress President Sonia Gandhi to take cognizance and take strict action,” he tweeted.
The Rajya Sabha MP further said, “Intolerance and violence are different from the values and culture of Congress”.
“The Congress has a history of upholding freedom of expression. Differences of opinion and perception are integral to democracy. Intolerance and violence are alien to the values and culture of Congress,” he said in a series of tweets.
Congress MP Manish Tewari also “categorically” condemned the “planned hooliganism” that took place at Sibal’s residence last night.
“Clearly ‘condemned’ hooliganism at Kapil Sibal’s residence last night. Those who masterminded the attack should keep in mind that he fights for @INCIndia both inside and outside the courts of law. You may find his views uncomfortable but it cannot be a license for violence.
“Who are trying to defend ‘command display’ last night. This happened @KapilSibal’s house” They damaged the car. Was standing up, then got buried. Throwing tomatoes both outside and inside the house If this is not hooliganism then what is?” he wrote on the micro-blogging platform.
Responding to Tiwari’s tweet, Congress Shashi Tharoor tweeted: “This is shameful. We all know @KapilSibal as a true Congressman who has fought many cases in court for @INCIndia. As a democratic party we need to hear what he has to say, disagree, but not like this. Our priority is to strengthen ourselves to take on the BJP!
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Earlier on Wednesday, Youth Congress workers staged a sit-in outside Sibal’s Jor Bagh residence and allegedly damaged a car.
Youth Congress workers also raised slogans against Sibal and asked him to “quit the party”.
The protesters also raised slogans in support of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
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