PC, G-23 slam ruckus outside Sibal’s house
congressman fighting for the party both inside and outside the Parliament” and said, “any suggestion from any quarter should be welcomed instead of suppressing”.
He “strongly condemned” the incident and dubbed it as an “orchestrated hooliganism”.
The Congress formally refused to comment. Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president BV Srinivas denied charges that IYC activists were behind the protest. Some party functionaries suggested that people from Sibal’s earlier constituency Chandni Chowk came to protests. Srinivas was among a group of leaders who publicly criticised Sibal for his comments on Punjab and Goa.
But the hooliganism only helped amplify their concern, felt two G-23 leaders, that a section of the party was not ready for open discussion on pressing issues.
Anand Sharma tweeted, “Shocked and disgusted to hear the news of attack and hooliganism at Kapil Sibal’s house. This deplorable action brings disrepute to the party...” Manish Tewari, another former minister, described the violence as an effort to defend “command performance”, an apparent reference to the party high command. Asserting that differences of opinion and perception are integral to a democracy, Sharma said: “Congress has a history of upholding freedom of expression... Intolerance and violence is alien to Congress values and culture.”
Tewari condemned the attack. “Those who masterminded assault must bear in mind that he fights for @Incindia both inside & outside courts of Law. You may find his views uncomfortable but that cannot be a license for violence,” he said.