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Hours after he raised questions over the functioning of the Congress, senior party leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday came under attacks from several quarters with party workers also protesting outside his house in New Delhi.
In the wake of several Congress leaders quitting the party and its Punjab unit in turmoil, Sibal demanded that an immediate meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) be convened and wondered who in the party was taking decisions in the absence of a full-time president.
Sibal, a member of the 'Group of 23' which last year had written to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said at a press conference that the grouping is 'not a Jee Huzur (yes sir) 23' and will continue to put forth the views and will continue to repeat the demands.
Carrying 'Get Well Soon' placards and raising slogans against Sibal, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) workers protested outside his house, saying they were 'hurt' by his remarks.
'The workers went there on their own accord as they felt hurt by Sibal's remarks. They just expressed their disappointment over the remarks,' a senior DPCC functionary said on condition of anonymity.
The protesters raised slogans against Sibal asking him to 'leave the party'.
Several leaders hit out at Sibal for what they said was questioning the leadership from which he had earlier 'benefitted'.
Youth Congress chief Srinivas B V said on Twitter, 'Listen 'Ji-Huzoor' :- The 'President' and 'Leadership' of the party are the same, who always ensured your entry in Parliament, made you a 'minister' during the good times of the party, when in opposition, ensured your entry into Rajya Sabha, always rewarded with responsibilities in good and bad times. And when the 'time' came for struggle, then...'
Congress general secretary Ajay Maken and Chhattisgarh minister T S Singh Deo also hit out at Sibal for his remarks.
Manickam Tagore, a permanent invitee to the CWC, took a swipe at Sibal over his remarks, saying on Twitter, 'Symbol of sacrifice Smt Sonia Gandhi ji is the congress president. It's unfortunate learned people also speak the language of sanghis and help them indirectly. Why?'
Delhi Congress leader Alka Lamba also slammed Sibal, alleging that she kept requesting him in the 2020 assembly elections to come to Chandni Chowk and campaign but he did not come.
'The workers whom Sibal called for a meeting at his home ahead of the polls, they joined Aam Aadmi Party the next day.... Will the Congress run on these people's strength?' Lamba said on Twitter.