New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday criticised the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over the communal violence in West Bengal and Bihar.
"I want the prime minister (Modi) to speak up, I want the home minister (Shah) to speak up and condemn the violence. It is unfortunate that in the midst of this violence, neither of them has spoken, why are they quiet," he said.
He said that people should not let the 2024 general elections be the reason for the violence. He also appealed to people to put a stop to the "burning of Bengal and Bihar" and to "the seeds of hatred". He added that it can only benefit politicians and political ideologies, meanwhile ordinary men become victims of this hatred.
"It is my earnest appeal to all those, and it may not be about one particular party, who is responsible for this madness. The country needs to move forward away from the environment that is being created. Let not 2024 be the reason for this," he added.
Speaking about the reports that Amit Shah expressed concern over the communal violence, Sibal said it is not enough. The MP was talking about the violence in Sasaram and Bihar Sharif towns during Ram Navami festivities. Vehicles, houses, and shops were burnt. Several people were injured. The police arrested 45 people till Saturday.
MP Sibal highlighted the importance of law and order. He was a union minister during the UPA 1 and 2 regimes. In May 2022, he quit Congress and was elected as an independent member with the support of the Samajwadi Party. He has recently launched a non-electoral platform called Insaaf to fight injustice.