Cong divided over Dutt, Arjun issues

The TADA court8217;s ruling in the Sanjay Dutt case on Tuesday has exposed 8220;divisions8221; in the ruling Congress with the party officially distancing itself from Parliamentary Affairs Minister PR Dasmunsi8217;s views on the judgment.

The TADA court8217;s ruling in the Sanjay Dutt case on Tuesday has exposed 8220;divisions8221; in the ruling Congress with the party officially distancing itself from Parliamentary Affairs Minister PR Dasmunsi8217;s views on the judgment.

The breach of communication between the party and the Government was also evident on the issue of the Uttar Pradesh Government8217;s decision to refer the dowry case allegedly involving HRD Minister Arjun Singh to the CBI. While Union Ministers Kapil Sibal and Renuka Choudhary defended Singh, the party chose not to join issue with UP Chief Minister Mayawati.

Reacting to Dutt8217;s sentence, Dasmunsi had issued a statement on Tuesday expressing shock and arguing that the actor had suffered long enough for 8220;unintentional faults8221;. Today, he called the jailed actor a 8220;patriot8221;.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, however, distanced the party from the minister8217;s comment saying it was his 8220;personal8221; 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 party8217;s claim and asserted that he had spoken in his capacity as a minister. 8220;I will go with a garland to jail when he is released,8221; he said. The jailed actor8217;s sister and Congress MP Priya Dutt called up Dasmunsi today and thanked him for his support.

Dasmunsi8217;s views were soon seconded by his Cabinet colleague Kapil Sibal. He said: 8220;The Congress party should stand by Sanjay Dutt. His father epitomised what the Congress stands for secularism and national integration.8221;

Government sources said the sentence was too harsh. 8220;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,8221; said sources.

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The Congress was equally equivocal in its reaction to the UP Government8217;s demand for CBI inquiry into the case involving the HRD Minister. At a press briefing, Singhvi refused to question or denounce the BSP regime8217;s decision and repeated only what the HRD Minister had said in his defence. Congress ministers, however, argued that Mayawati was trying to 8220;embarrass8221; the party by putting the ball in the Centre8217;s court.