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A response

I am pained by the vehement reaction of my good friend Kapil Sibal (The Hindu, Aug. 7) at my television interview regarding Sanjay Dutt in which I have not criticised him at all. In reply to a question I said Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi&# 8217;s remarks as a Cabinet Minister were inappropriate. I did express my view that the media hype, specially Bollywood, in favour of Sanjay Dutt would be counter-productive.

In the interview I opined that six years rigorous imprisonment appeared excessive, that probation could have been granted to Sanjay and there were chances of Sanjay getting bail from the Supreme Court on certain conditions. Besides, I termed as scandalous the inaction of the state authorities in not acting upon the recommendations of Justice Srikrishna Report in which he had indicted top political personalities for their role in the Bombay riots.

As regards Mr. Sibal’s uncalled for personal attack about my alleged silence during the Gujarat riots, may I refer him to my castigation of the Gujarat government for its role in the Gujarat riots in my press and public statements which appeared in the Times of India on March 3 and 4, 2002, in the Indian Express on May 14, 2002, and in the Asian Age on September 5, 2003 which carried on its front page “Soli attacks Modi, needles Del hi.” The Babri Masjid demolition was condemned by me as an act of national shame in my press statement which appeared in the Times of India three or four days after the happening.

I trust Mr. Sibal is now better informed.

Soli Sorabjee,
New Delhi

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