Kapil Sibal criticises Congress leadership; party workers protest outside his house

Sept. 29: In the wake of several Congress leaders quitting the party and its Punjab unit in turmoil, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal demanded that an immediate meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) be convened and wondered who in the party was taking decisions in the absence of a full-time president. Hours after senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal criticised the party leadership over various issues including the handling of the internal conflict in the party in Punjab, members of the Congress party protested against him. The party workers have accused him of allying with BJP for his statements earlier today at a press conference.

Sibal, a member of the ‘Group of 23’ which last year had written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, said at a press conference that the grouping is “not a Jee Huzur 23” and will continue to put forth the views and will continue to repeat the demands. He appealed to those leaders who quit Congress to come back to the fold and said, “it’s ironic to say that we are going to leave the party. Those who were considered close to the top leadership have left the party and those who were not considered close are still standing with the party. We are G-23 and not Ji-huzoor 23.”

Congress workers from Chandi Chowk gathered outside Kapil Sibal’s house in large numbers in the evening to protest against him. They were carrying placards saying ‘get well soon Kapil Sibal’. The protesters said that the party made him cabinet minister, gave him important roles, but he has done nothing for the party. They alleged that Sibal does not talk to ordinary party workers, and he has no contact with voters.