Without saying much in public, the Congress on Wednesday frowned upon the decision of the former Union Minister, Kapil Sibal, to become the West Bengal government’s legal counsel in the chit fund case that has kicked up a political storm in the State with several prominent leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress being named in the scam.
Asked about the Congress view on Mr. Sibal’s decision, party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said: “As a lawyer, he has the discretion to choose his cases. However, as a political leader, we hope that he will take note of the sentiments of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC)” which is up in arms against Mr. Sibal.
On PCC chief Adhir Choudhury threatening that Mr. Sibal would not be allowed to enter the State, Mr. Surjewala sought to brush it off as political rhetoric; stating that “he is wedded to the grassroots.” Congress general secretary in-charge of West Bengal, C.P. Joshi, said “I fully endorse the views of the WBPCC.”
As to whether the party had communicated its displeasure to Mr. Sibal, neither functionary was willing to say more. Mr. Joshi is understood to have communicated the PCC’s anger over Mr. Sibal’s decision to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
