Sibal launches a new platform, plans to approach Oppn parties
Independent Rajya Sabha lawmaker Kapil Sibal will launch a new platform to bring non-national Democratic Alliance parties, legal community, former civil servants and others on board to provide an alternate vision of governance.
Sibal maintained it is “a government versus citizens” climate and his platform “Insaaf” will suggest new measures on issues such as sovereignty, liberty and social justice and India’s federal structure. “We have called a meeting at Jantar Mantar on March 11. It will be a people’s movement and not a political party. We will reach out to all opposition parties and those including BJD (Biju Janata Dal) or Akali Dal. We are talking about unity to uphold our country’s sovereign, liberty and social justice. We will also propose changes in anti-defection laws (10th Schedule),” he said.
The ace lawyer also called upon the legal community to come to the forefront of this people’s movement, arguing how lawyers have always played crucial roles in bringing change in society. Sibal, who amicably left the Congress party in May 2022, said his platform will travel to states such as Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. He will also launch a portal, Insaf ke Sipahi, for aspirants to join movement.
Sibal’s efforts coincide with different opposition outfits such as the Congress, Left parties and Trinamool Congress coming up with their versions of a new vision for India. Sibal said his platform will provide constructive suggestions that can be given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi if the latter wants, but the other visions are “only full of criticism”.
Sibal is in touch with the Congress, a party leader said.
“Our ideology is that anyone who wants to oppose the BJP and RSS’ politics of spreading venom and hatred, we will strongly support it, there is no doubt about it,” Congress spokesperson Supriya Srinate said in a press conference, minutes after Sibal announced his plans. While many leaders are supportive of Sibal’s efforts, they raised concerns on how far an MP without any organization can take forward his efforts. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was yet to react to the platform at the time of going to press.