New Delhi: Soon after senior political leader Kaabil Sibal questioned the Congress party’s senior leadership over its handling of the Punjab unit crisis, hundreds of party workers reached outside his residence in the national capital to protest his remarks.
Earlier in the day, Sibal (73) held a press conference where he demanded that an immediate meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) be called and wondered who was taking decisions in the party in the absence of a full-time president.
Addressing the media, he said a senior member of the ‘Group of 23’ has written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi to immediately convene a CWC meeting to discuss party affairs and exodus.
Hours after his remarks, Delhi Congress workers staged a protest outside his residence against senior party leader Kapil Sibal with the words ‘Get Well Soon Kapil Sibal’.
Congress leaders pull up Kapil Sibal
Sibal was also criticized by many Congress leaders including former Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken.
Talking to news agency ANI, Maken said that senior leaders like Sibal should not demean the organization which gave them an identity.
“Sonia Gandhiji had ensured that Kapil Sibal became a minister in the Union Cabinet despite having no organizational background. Everyone in the party is being heard. Wants to tell Mr. Sibal and others that they should not bring that organization down Which gave him an identity.” Maken said.
Chhattisgarh minister and Congress leader TS Singh Deo also reacted to Sibal’s remake, saying he was misleading.
Dev said, “Sonia Gandhi ji is taking decisions in the party. It is unfortunate that an experienced person like Kapil Sibal does not know that decisions are being taken. People committed to the ideology of Congress will never leave the party.”
Sibal on Punjab crisis
Expressing displeasure over the developments in the party in Punjab and the recent exodus of party leaders, Sibal said that all such issues need to be discussed on the party’s platform.
He told the media, “A border state where this is happening to the Congress party, what does it mean? It is an advantage for the ISI and Pakistan. We know the history of Punjab and the rise of militancy there. Make sure they stay united.”
“There is no president in our party at this point of time. So we don’t know who is taking this decision. We know and yet we don’t know,” Sibal said.
Speaking about the “group of 23”, Sibal said that it is very clear, we are G-23, not Ji Huzoor 23. “We will keep talking. We will keep reiterating our demands,” Sibal said.
Punjab Congress Crisis
A high-end political drama continues in the Congress Punjab unit with a series of resignations and now former CM Amarinder Singh meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence, fueling speculations of him joining the BJP.
It all started with Singh’s resignation from the chief minister’s post citing ‘insult’, following which Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu stepped down expressing dissatisfaction with the cabinet chosen by the new CM Charanjit Singh Channi.
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