Press
Briefing Monday, 22nd March 2010
Shri
Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media today.
Shri Abhishek Singhvi said that the BJP and Mr. Modi
have repeatedly supposedly sworn by the law and sworn to
uphold the law. They have always suggested, at least
pretended, that they have great respect for the justice
system for the courts. If they really mean what they say
and say what they mean then we hope and trust that Mr.
Modi will abide by the Supreme Court created SIT’s
summons to appear before it to give relevant
information. We know that Mr. Modi has time. He has been
given a band of time in which if he wishes to appear
before it, but the real point is that if he definitely
has respect for the letter and spirit of the law of the
land, then he must appear before the Supreme Court
created SIT and give his explanation. Not to do so would
be contumacious, not to do so will indicate that he has
something to hide. Shri Singhvi said that he wanted to
remind Mr. Modi through media that this incident
involved almost 1200 people dead spread over 151 towns,
993 villages and 16 out of the 25 districts of Gujarat
and the period was not only Feb 28 to March 3rd but
again Marh 15 to roughly June period in the aftermath.
Shri Singhvi further said that he wanted to remind that
on 26th March 2008 the Supreme Court did what has never
been done in independent India before which we had at
that time characterized as a vote of ‘no confidence in
the partiality of the State administration of justice’
i.e. that it created a SIT – a 5 Member SIT under the
Chairmanship of Shri Raghvan and ultimately the FIR
filed by Mrs. Jafri in 2006 was also referred and the
order of 1st of May 2009 by the Apex Court shows that
the whole object was to have a comprehensive free and
fair examination of witnesses, fair trial where accused
have not been made accused, file supplementary charge
sheets. The basic point is that if Mr. Modi has nothing
to hide, he should ensure his attendance within the
proximate time period given to him. If he is only to
state facts, if he has no cover up to do and if he
genuinely has respect for the system, there is no
question of delay and we along with the public of India
look for that accountability.
To a question that it is only a notice served on Mr.
Modi and not a summon, Shri Singhvi said that such an
interpretation is laughable. There is no question of
statutory force. This has the highest force because it
is from an authority created under the direct orders of
the Supreme Court - Apex Court of the country. It is,
therefore, empowered by that Apex Court and he does not
need to remind the media that under Article 141 and 142
of our Constitution, the Supreme Court’s directions are
to be obeyed not only in letter but in spirit by every
central and state and every other executive authority
across the country. So he thinks that any such
interpretation is adopted by anyone only at their grave
peril.
Shri Singhvi further said that there is no such thing as
a complicated notice and a simple notice. There is only
a notice which is known as summon and under the summons
he has band of time to appear. He is not saying that
time is over. We only express the hope and trust that
those who swear by the law and make pretence of it, act
on that law within time. Mr. Modi still has the time.
Shri Singhvi further said that a defiance of such
summons would be contumacious which means that it
amounts to subject to Supreme Court taking cognizance,
the Supreme Court has to take a view on that.
To a question on the reaction of the Congress party over
manhandling of a congress worker by Maharashtra
Government Civil Supply Minister, Shri Singhvi said that
he does not have the details and said that in the
absence of complete details he would not be in a
position to comment on such incident. If that happens to
be true, then it is condemnable.
On the reaction of the Congress party on the nuclear
pact of Pakistan, Shri Singhvi that he does not think we
can react on such speculation in respect of issues
between sovereign nations. We have no basis to react.
Neither we know from any semi official or official US
source nor we know from any semi or official source from
Pakistan. There is no question of reaction at the
moment. We will react at an appropriate time only when
such matters are in the public domain when there is
concrete specific documentary evidence on which we can
react otherwise it would be very much in the air.
On the question of Shri Rahul Gandhi’s Rath Yatra
compared with the Rath Yatra of Shri Advani, Shri
Singhvi said that there is big difference between the
two. Rath Yatra of Advani was for dividing the society
whereas Shri Rahul Gandhi’s Rath Yatra would be a
political one. Media would see the impact of this Rath
Yatra in the time to come. The people of India know the
difference and the feelings between the two Rath Yatras.
Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC
