Kapil Sibal interview post resignation: Future plans are to unite opposition to oppose BJP

Kapil Sibal interview: In an interview to the Indian Express minutes after he announced his resignation, Sibal said "my future plans are to unite the opposition to oppose the present BJP dispensation which is following anti-people policies and which is dividing the inclusive culture of India."

Sibal said he has chosen to snap his ties with the Congress for reasons that he does not wish to talk about. (PTI)

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal Wednesday announced he had resigned from the Congress party on May 16 and has filed his nomination as an Independent candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh, with the backing of the Samajwadi Party.

In an interview to The Indian Express minutes after he announced his resignation, Sibal said “my future plans are to unite the opposition to oppose the present BJP dispensation which is following anti-people policies and which is dividing the inclusive culture of India.”

Excerpts from his interview:

Q. Have you resigned from the Congress?

Kapil Sibal: Yes, I resigned from the Congress on May 16. I have resigned from the primary membership of the Congress

Q. What made you take this decision?

Story continues below this ad

Kapil Sibal: That is not necessary for me to spell out at this point in time

Q. Have you filed your nomination for Rajya Sabha from the Samajwadi Party?

Kapil Sibal: No, I have not. I have filed my nomination as an independent. The Samajwadi Party has supported me.

Q. Have you joined the Samajwadi Party?

Kapil Sibal: Of course not. How can I file a nomination as an independent . Then I have to file as a Samajwadi Party candidate. If you remember, I had made a public statement that I will never join any other political party. So consistent with my public position, I have done what I proclaimed. Of course, as an independent member, I hope to be an independent voice in the country.

Q. Your future plans?

Story continues below this ad

Kapil Sibal: My future plans are to unite the opposition to oppose the present BJP dispensation which is following anti-people policies and which is dividing the inclusive culture of India.

Q. Why do you think the Congress is not anymore the vehicle to do all this?

Kapil Sibal: Everybody. All the opposition should be a vehicle for inclusive

Q, You chose to snap you ties with the Congress

Story continues below this ad

Kapil Sibal: I have chosen to snap my ties with the Congress for reasons that I do not wish to talk about now. Now that I am not in the Congress party I do not wish to say anything adverse, anything that is inconsistent with the culture of politics that we must embrace. Within the Congress, I could say what I wanted to say. Now that I am not in the Congress I do not wish to criticise anybody in the Congress.

Q As part of G 23 you tried to bring some reforms in the Congress

Kapil Sibal: I am not going to respond to any of that now that I am not in the Congress party.

Q. Your message to the other G 23 members

Kapil Sibal: No message to anybody.

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

Statehood protest takes violent turn in Ladakh, BJP office set ablaze in Leh

India8 min ago

Protests in Ladakh turned violent as students and youth organisations demanded statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Two elderly protesters fainted, prompting a shutdown call. A BJP office and security vehicle were set on fire. Activist Sonam Wangchuk urged for a peaceful approach. The demand for Sixth Schedule status is due to Ladakh's tribal-majority population and direct central administration.

View all shorts

Live Blog