Congress defends Dasmunsi on Sanjay Dutt
New Delhi, Aug 1 (UNI) The Congress today said there was nothing wrong in the statement of Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi asserting that Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was not a terrorist.
"Mr Dasmunsi was expressing a personal opinion and there is absolutely nothing wrong in saying so," party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told mediapersons at the AICC headquarters here, reacting to the Union Minister's observation that he stood by Sanjay Dutt, who was sentenced to six years imprisonment in Mumbai serial blasts case yesterday.
"Congress believes...ultimately, it is the appellate process, which has just begun, that will take its course," he said.
In this context, he said no political party or any individual could jump the appellate process. Definitely, Sanjay Dutt would also use the appellate process.
Asked
what
was
the
official
reaction
of
the
Congress
on
the
matter
as
Sanjay
Dutt's
family
had
close
connection
with
the
party,
Dr
Singhvi
said
"I
absolutely
disagree
that
the
Congress
has
to
have
official
stand
on
individual
matters."
"It
is
not
fair
to
express
any
views
on
a
matter
of
sub-judice
from
this
podium,"
he
said,
adding
that
"these
are
matters
which
are
decided
by
the
court
on
the
basis
of
hardcore
evidence."
Asked
if
the
Congress
has
any
sympathy
for
Sanjay
Dutt,
he
said
"these
are
all
subjective
matters."
UNI
SH
SK
RN1807