Congress should stand by Sanjay Dutt: Sibal

New Delhi, Aug 3: Union Minister Kapil Sibal today said the Congress should stand by actor Sanjay Dutt, serving six years' jail sentence in connection with the 1993 Bombay blasts, as his late father Sunil Dutt had always adhered to the Party's ideology of national integration and secularism.

''All help should be given to the Dutt's family to deal with the crisis,'' said Mr Sibal, who as a lawyer got actor Sanjay bail the first time he was arrested in the case.

Mr Sibal's support came two days after Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said he stood by Sanjay as the actor was not a terrorist.

Mr Sibal stressed on the strong association Sanjay's family has had with the Congress over the years.

''Dutt Sahab (Sunil Dutt) was a great man. He was ideologically associated with national integration.... His daughter (Sanjay's sister Priya) is also a Congress MP,'' he told reporters here after flagging off India's first Arctic expedition.

Asked whether there were differences within the Congress on supporting Sanjay, Mr Sibal said: ''The Congress is one on the issue.'' He, however, refused to comment on the merits of the case.

''First, I am no longer his lawyer, and second, I am a Minister,'' he said and added that the Congress was not like the BJP whose top ministers were facing charges (in the Babri Masjid demolition case) and their leaders went around town saying they were not quilty.

UNI