Sanjay Dutt blames Cong for father's death

New Delhi: The gloves are off now between the Congress and Samajawadi Party. Samajwadi Party's star attraction, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has hit out at the Congress, blaming it for his father's death and advising his sister to rethink her ties with the party.

In an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN's sister channel IBN-7 an emotional Dutt claimed that his father Sunil Dutt died because he could not recover from the humiliation he suffered from the Congress.

"I am unhappy. Nothing is more sad than the fact that Congress is siding with Sanjay Nirupam, the person who had abused my father," Dutt had said.

"Congress forgot my father even when he was a Minister. His death too has happened because of the party. He couldn't get over the Nirupam shock. He had even written a resignation letter to the party," a distressed Sanjay Dutt claimed.

He added that if he was in his sister Priya Dutt's place, he would quit the party.

"She knows how the Congress is taking Sanjay Nirupam's side," he said.

The allegations against the Congress party come a day after Sanjay Dutt made another sensational allegation on CNN-IBN that he had been threatened by an aide to a senior Cabinet minister against joining the Samajwadi Party.

The minister, SP sources told CNN-IBN was none other than Union Law Minister H R Bhardwaj.

Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh alleged that Sanjay Dutt was told if he contested on a Samajwadi Party ticket, then his cases in the 1993 Mumbai blasts - which are still pending a decision in court - could go against him.

Meanwhile, H R Bhardwaj has predictably denied all the allegations made by Sanjay Dutt.

“What Sanjay Dutt has said is false. I have never intimidated anyone. Sunil Dutt was like my brother and Sanjay and Priya are like my children. Sanjay Dutt is being used by somebody,” Bhardwaj was quoted as saying.

Amar Singh however, told CNN-IBN that H R Bhardwaj has put himself under suspicion with his remarks.

"I have no intention to broadcast any CD to embarrass the Congress party. I have never named Mr Bhardwaj or said that he met Sanjay Dutt just before the verdict. By admitting that he has met Sanjay Dutt he has put himself under suspicion," Amar Singh said.

Congress Spokesperson, Jayanthi Natrajan has rubbished the allegations saying, "Sanjay Dutt's statement is a self serving statement and is not backed by any proof. The Congress party denies it. This statement has been made several years after Sunil Dutt passed away. The Congress, it should be remembered, in memory of late Sunil Dutt decided not to field any canidate against Sanjay Dutt in Lucknow."

"If this was not so sad, it would actually be funny. According to Gandhian principles, Sanjay Dutt should not be doing this. These accusations just reflect the Samajwadi Party's confusion," Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam has reacted to Sanjay Dutt's allegations by saying that Dutt's words were not his own. He hinted that Amar Singh was behind it all. He also apologised to Dutt if he has hurt him.

"There is a mischievous mind behind what Sanjay Dutt is saying. This person enjoys breaking relationships and causing fights between siblings. All who have come into contact with this man have been destroyed. I want to warn Sanjay that he must stay alert," he said.

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