Information & Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi seems to have trapped himself in a corner by saying that all efforts should be made so that actor Sanjay Dutt gets bail from the Supreme Court, a stand which Congress distanced itself from describing it as a “personal” opinion.

A day after he made the comment in the form of a statement, Mr Dasmunsi on Wednesday went a step further by saying that “anybody who does not feel compassionate towards Dutt at this juncture should get a check up from a cardiologist to find out if he has a heart”.

AICC spokesman Abhishek Singhvi distanced the party from the minister’s comment saying it was a personal opinion and that it would not be right for a political party or any person to comment on a matter that was sub judice.

A senior AICC leader dismissed Mr Dasmunsi’s comments as an “emotional reaction”. However, those in the know insisted that Mr Dasmunsi’s comments were made in the full knowledge of his leaders, and that it was done to show that the party cared for the actor whose father Sunil Dutt was a highly-respected party man and whose sister Priya Dutt is a sitting party MP.

On Tuesday, Mr Dasmunsi had said, “All efforts should be made to enable the actor get relief from the highest judiciary.”

On Wednesday, he justified this, saying, “As minister in charge of matters relating to the film industry, I am concerned with the well being of those working there.”

 He said the court had declared that Dutt was no terrorist, and said he had suffered much during his 16 months in jail earlier. “Sanjay has shown great courage and patience, and an appeal for him will be made,” he said.

He reiterated that he was “deeply shocked and surprised”.  “Dutt’s personal conduct and behaviour are an example for the young generation,” he said, carefully adding that his sympathy for Dutt was not questioning the judiciary.

The minister had said on Tuesday, “I believe in the judiciary, but the time has come to gauge the parameters for an unintentional fault, for which he has suffered long enough.”

 However, Mr Dasmunsi found no backing from his party, with Mr Singhvi saying, “The Congress does not have to have any stand on an individual’s conviction.”