Angry Cong wants Sibal off Saradha case

Aditi Tandon

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 21

Days after former Law Minister Kapil Sibal agreed to represent the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal Government in the ongoing Saradha scam probe by the CBI, the Congress leadership today, in a terse message, told him to withdraw from the case in the interest of the party in the state.

The move came after Congress’ West Bengal unit rebelled against Sibal’s move to defend the TMC leadership accused in the scam, which is the party’s main plank against the state government. Congress’ Bengal unit president Adhir Ranjan Choudhry today told The Tribune, “We have expressed our resentment at the move and won’t let Kapil Sibal enter Bengal. We will show black flags if he comes. How can a former Congress minister defend our biggest adversary in a scam that has robbed lakhs of Bengalis of their lifelong earnings?”

The Congress has officially conveyed to Sibal its displeasure at his move, asking him to act in party’s interest.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “As a lawyer, Mr Kapil Sibal can be engaged by anyone but as a political leader we hope he will take note of the sentiments of our people. He is mature enough, seasoned enough and senior enough to take care of these pressing concerns.”

The Congress leaders privately said Sibal could face “consequential action” if he doesn’t withdraw from the case.

Party’s general secretary in charge of West Bengal CP Joshi when contacted said he endorsed the stand taken by the party on the matter and had “in a formal report submitted to Congress President and Vice President presented the views of Bengal Congress workers who are shocked at Sibal’s decision to defend TMC leadership in the scam”.