PC heckled for defending TMC govt’s action in court

Veteran Congress leader and senior advocate P Chidambaram had to face protests from lawyers and party supporters at the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday when he defended a move by the West Bengal government. The case in question was initiated by state Congress chief Adhir Chowdhury, who challenged the Trinamool Congress government’s sale of Metro Dairy shares to agroprocessing firm Keventer.

The protesters — lawyers who claimed to support the Congress — accused Chidambaram of “toying with the sentiments of the party”.

Lawyer Kaustuv Bagchi said at a time when Congress workers are allegedly being heckled by Trinamool Congress, the former Union finance minister is questioning on behalf of TMC before the division bench of chief

Justice. “Everyone is aware of the atrocities and violence against the Congress leaders and workers by the ruling Trinamool. Being a Congress working committee member, how can he question it in HC in a case by Congress state president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. He should not step inside the court over this case again,” said Bagchi.

“There is serious misappropriation of funds during the sale of shares of Metro Dairy to the private company. Chidambaram should have sided with the Congress leader and workers,” said the lawyer supporting Congress.

Adhir said the ‘Go Back’ slogan to Chidambaram outside the HC is the ‘natural’ reaction of the Congress workers present at the court.

His lawyer Bikash Bhattacharya claimed the sale was adversely affecting the interests of the state. Keventer, he said, has already sold a part of the shares to a Singapore company at a much higher price. However, no reaction was given by PC.