My criticism of Modi is based on data & facts: Kapil Sibal
During launch of his book, veteran lawyer also talks about recent turmoil in judiciary
LUCKNOW: Former union minister and renowned Supreme Court lawyer Kapil Sibal, in a no holds barred conversation on Saturday, commented on the economic policies of the Modi government and recent turmoil in the judiciary .
Sibal was here for the launch of his book ‘ Shades of Truth: A Journey Derailed,’ at the Lucknow Literature Festival.
Lawyer Jaideep Narain Mathur of the Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court moderated the book launch session.
Sibal’s book is a critical analysis of economic policies of the Modi government.
“I am a known critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This criticism is not new but from the days he (PM Modi) was chief minister (of Gujarat),” said Sibal.
Commenting on his book, which is largely based on a critical analysis of the Modi government, Sibal said: “All my criticisms in the book are data based and I have also attributed sources of my data.”
“No statement in my book is without data,” he added.
The former union minister also accused the Modi government of saffronisation of educational institutions.
“Be it IIT or any other educational institution, we have RSS men heading them,” said Sibal.
On the occasion, Sibal also talked about the recent turmoil in the judiciary and collegium system of appointment of judges.
“We cannot allow the executive to appoint judges. But we also know that the collegium system is also not perfect. So, there is a need for a broad based system for appointment of judges,” Sibal said.
Commenting on the education system, Sibal, who was also HRD minister in the UPA government, said: “We need to look through eyes of children and not through eyes of parents or teachers.”
He was also critical of the examination system and asserted that children must not be made to face failure every other day.
On defeat of the Congress in 2014 general election, Sibal said: “UPA was on the wrong side of the public mood just as the Modi government is at present.”
On India’s relations with neighbours, Sibal pointed out that the country’s relations with all its neighbours were not cordial at present.
However, this was not the case during the UPA government, he said.