Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Friday, 7 September, launched his new book, “Shades of Truth – A Journey Derailed”, that aims to highlight the failures of the Narendra Modi government.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Vice-President Hamid Ansari were present at the book launch, held at Teen Murti Bhawan in Delhi. The other guests of honour included P Chidambaram, Sitaram Yechury, Chandan Mitra and Sharad Yadav.
In conversation with NDTV’s Sreenivasan Jain, Sibal along with other leaders spoke on a range of issues including cow vigilantism, Congress’alleged “soft Hindutva” pitch and Rahul Gandhi’s as a probable Prime Minister.
“Coalition Will Help Defeat BJP”
Former PM Manmohan Singh arrives at the venue.
(Photo: The Quint)
Predicting the results of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Sharad Yadav said this government (NDA) will not come to power.
In 2019, constitutional values will be restored.Sarad Yadav
Sitaram Yechury said a coalition of all secular and progressive forces uniting on the basis of the constitutional order will strengthen the country and ensure that this government doesn’t come back to power.
Former Home Minister P Chidambaram said there is a good chance that there will be a broad coalition of non-BJP parties. “If that happens, the result will come forth,” he said.
Sibal said if the Opposition is able to replicate what it did in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana, there is no chance the BJP will win.
“Cow Vigilantism On the Rise”
Slamming the rising cases of cow vigilantism in the country, Sibal said that the poor and the farmers are scared even to trade old cattle anymore.
“There is nothing wrong with protecting the cow. What’s wrong is that you kill people to protect the cow. That’s the issue in this country. People can’t trade, people can’t sell (cows). When cows get old, people sell them to get money and buy a cow that gives milk. That’s the politics that is prevelant in the country,” he said.
“Congress Supported CJI’s Impeachment to Send a Message”
When asked about the impeachment of Chief Justice of India, Sibal said that Congress supported it to send a message acoess against wrongdoings in the juidiciary.
It was not something that the Congress party raised (the issue of alleged wrongdoings by the CJI). We did not say the democracy was in danger. Why did they say it? Why did they come out for the first time in the history of this country. if there was something there, it was the duty of every right thinking party to find out whyKapil Sibal
“All we wanted that if there were allegations of that serious nature, all we wanted was an inquiry,” he added.
Chidambaram said that the party, however, was divided over the matter.
“There were two views within the party. The other view was that it’s not likely to pass even the first hurdle. I subscribed to the view that it will be a futile exercise because it won’t even pass the first exercise. As I predicted, the effort failed in the first hurdle,” said Chidambaram.
Is Rahul Gandhi a Match for PM Modi?
While discussing the issue of a Prime Ministerial candidate to match the calibre of PM Modi in 2019, Sibal said that the Opposition will cross the bridge when it comes to it. When asked about his views Rahul Gandhi’s potential to be the PM, Sibal said that politics is not about one man.
“We have seen a great leader as the Prime minister of the country but where has he taken this country, that’s the question we must ask. Politics is not about one man. Politics is about collectivity, politics is about ideology, politics is about conviction and passion. He (Gandhi) is the president of the party. Wherever he goes, people throng,” he said.
“What happened in 2004? Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a tall leader was on one side and no none was named on the other side. What happened?” he added.
As Sibal was answering his final question, former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah asked the panel that if the coalition comes to power, will they be forgivers or will they use all the instruments of the state to punish?
Sibal responded in the negative, saying that they are fighting the government’s method right now, and they’ll keep fighting it in the future as well.
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