Sibal condemns Hindu Sena protest against Caravan magazine over Aseemanand's interview

Minister of Communication and Information Technology Kapil Sibal on Friday criticized Hindu Sena workers for protesting outside the office of Caravan Magazine, for running the interview of Swami Aseemanand, in which he allegedly implicated Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat for his involvement in the 2007 terror attacks.

Sibal asserted that the mindset of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is anti-freedom of expression.

"This is a violent attack on the freedom of expression, and the experience of the NDA should make you recognize and understand that this is something they did even during 1999-2004, when people from Tehelka were able to expose them. What did they do? They set up a commission to destroy them. Same thing is happening now," he told media here today.

"Caravan is not a Congress agent; it is a periodical which investigates thoroughly some issues. They have investigated what Aseemanand has been saying. And they stand by their story. And now they are attacking them. The mindset of BJP is anti-freedom of expression. The mindset of BJP is to destroy whoever comes on their way," he added.

Earlier in the day, Hindu Sena workers staged a protest outside Caravan magazine's office over the Aseemanand controversial interview.

"If any Hindu leader or organization is accused of terror then it's an accusation on all 100 crore Hindus. Caravan Magazine should be shut down or else Hindu Sena will shut it down," a Hindu Sena worker Vishnu Gupta said.