Sibal defends 3-fold asset hike

Union Minister Kapil Sibal, who is also the Congress candidate from Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency, on Saturday defended the three fold hike in his property and slammed BJP for 2002 Gujarat riots.

“I have not invested a penny in past five years. These entire asset which has been tripled, is my ancestral property which was transferred to me after my father’s demise. The rate of the property has been tripled in these years,” he said.

Eying on the Muslim voters of the area, he attacked the BJP on Gujarat riots.

“Justice has not been delivered to the victims of 2002 Gujarat riots. The officers who were posted at the riot affected areas, initiated an enquiry and gave themselves a clean chit. Many questions have been raised on Gujarat government and the Special Investigating Team (SIT) which is investigating the riot cases,” he said.

Asked about chances of a close competition with BJP’s candidate Harsh Vardhan, he said, “After 21 years, Harsh Vardhan is talking about Chandni Chowk. If he really wants to serve this constituency, he shall resign from Legislative Assembly and from his post of party’s state unit president. But he will not do it because he knows that if he resigns from state politics, he will lose his entire political career,” he said.

He also took a dig at Aam Aadmi Party candidate Ashutosh’s statement of being a “half Muslim”.

“People who don’t know about Islam should not talk say that they are half Muslim. Islam means “Musallam Iman” (Honesty), which he doesn’t have in his life,” he said.He also countered the opposition’s claim that he never visited his constituency in past five years.

“The opposition must check their facts. I have visited my constituency 570 times in past five years and I have also chaired 170 meetings with officials on local issues,” he said.He also played down the ‘Modi wave’ in the country. “Why are they shaking hands with other state-level political parties? If they feel there is a Modi wave in the country, they should contest without any support,” he said.