Cong divided over Dutt, Arjun issues

Reacting to Dutt’s sentence, Dasmunsi had issued a statement on Tuesday expressing shock and arguing that the actor had suffered long enough for “unintentional faults”. Today, he called the jailed actor a “patriot”.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, however, distanced the party from the minister’s comment saying it was his “personal” opinion. The party would only talk about the legal avenues available to Dutt without going into the merits or demerits of the ruling.

Dasmunsi was quick to rebut the party’s claim and asserted that he had spoken in his capacity as a minister. “I will go with a garland to jail when he is released,” he said. The jailed actor’s sister and Congress MP Priya Dutt called up Dasmunsi today and thanked him for his support.

Dasmunsi’s views were soon seconded by his Cabinet colleague Kapil Sibal. He said: “The Congress party should stand by Sanjay Dutt. His father epitomised what the Congress stands for (secularism and national integration).”

Government sources said the sentence was too harsh. “He may not get bail for the next eight to 14 months (until he completes at least half of his sentence). In such trying times, the party should stand by his family,” said sources.

The Congress was equally equivocal in its reaction to the UP Government’s demand for CBI inquiry into the case involving the HRD Minister. At a press briefing, Singhvi refused to question or denounce the BSP regime’s decision and repeated only what the HRD Minister had said in his defence. Congress ministers, however, argued that Mayawati was trying to “embarrass” the party by putting the ball in the Centre’s court.