Expressing disappointment over attacks on his colleague Kapil Sibal’s house by some party workers, Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday said he feels “hurt and helpless”.
The former Union Minister and other veterans of the G 23 joined for a meeting to condemn the attack on Sibal who questioned the party’s leadership.
“I feel helpless when we cannot start meaningful conversations within party forums,” P Chidambaram said in a tweet.
Several senior members of the group last year had written to the party chief Sonia Gandhi demanding an organisational repair.
The attack on Sibal has been termed as "orchestrated hooliganism".
Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday had questioned the party leadership, the ongoing crisis in Punjab politics and raised demand for electing a party president.
"There is no president. The demand is growing to call CWC (Congress Working Committee) to have some dialogue," Kapil Sibal said.
Extending support to his fellow mate, Chidambaram condemned the protest outside Sibal’s house and said, “I also feel hurt and helpless when I see pictures of Congress workers raising slogans outside the residence of a colleague and MP. The safe harbour to which one can withdraw seems to be silence.”
Congress workers protested outside Sibal’s house and damaged his car raising slogans “Get well soon”.
Senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Vivek Tankha and Raj Babbar were among those who united to stand behind Mr Sibal, with Mr Sharma urging Ms Gandhi to take strong action against those involved.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also criticised what he called an ‘attack’ on Sibal by party workers because he chose to express views not matching that of the party leadership. He further said that such incidents do not foretell good for the party, adding that it is unfortunate that the seniors are being "completely sidelined", which is not good for the party.
Earlier, Congress leader Manish Tiwari has also condemned the protest against Sibal saying, "Those who masterminded assault must bear in mind that he fights for @INCIndia both inside & outside courts of Law".
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Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, former leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, has also strongly expressed shame over the "orchestrated hooliganism" at Mr Sibal's residence. He has been speaking against the top brass of the Congress party. "He is a loyal congressman fighting for the party both inside and outside the Parliament. Any suggestion from any quarter should be welcomed instead of suppressing, hooliganism is unacceptable," he said.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda too condemned the act saying, "Orchestrated hooliganism outside Kapil Sibal's residence last night is not the culture of the Congress."