Press Briefing Friday, 23rd July 2010
Shri Abhishek Singhvi addressed the media today.


Shri Abhishek Singhvi said that this is amazing, distressing and completely unjustifiable; that a party which calls itself a responsible opposition party has fielded its senior leaders to pre-empt, influence and subvert an ongoing Supreme Court initiated investigation. It is indefensible and unheard of. The BJP is scaling new heights of illegal, unconstitutional and improper conduct.

First it was the Home Minister of Gujarat running scared, not available and avoiding interrogation. Now perhaps his mentor is equally scared and has pressurized senior BJP leaders to prevent and obstruct an ongoing CBI investigation. It is unprecedented that a press conference be held on such an issue. Has the entire BJP and its leadership, including senior lawyers amongst them, forgotten that it was no less than the highest court of the land which, in January 2010, transferred this very case from the Gujarat police to the CBI? Have they forgotten that the Gujarat counsel in that case vigorously and vehemently (but unsuccessfully) argued that there was no occasion to transfer the case to CBI since the Gujarat police in that very case had completed investigation and a charge sheet had been filed? Yet the apex court did a relatively unusual thing - it transferred the entire investigation to CBI and directed re-initiation of investigation and the filing of a status report by the CBI in the apex court. This Supreme Court initiated investigation is now nearing completion and has zeroed in on, among other issues, the possible complicity of Amit Shah. This has obviously sent shivers down the collective spine of the BJP. A press conference on this issue is a blatant attempt to pressurize the investigators. It is a cheap attempt to create an arc of immunity for Amit Shah and, indeed, for Narendra Modi. It demonstrates BJP's view that there are two sets of laws: one for the ordinary man and another for Amit Shah or other BJP high and mighty who can avoid interrogation, investigation and arrest.

It constitutes a clear contempt of court, since it directly and seriously interferes in the administration of justice. It is a reflection of the BJP's multiple fears and anxieties. It is proof positive that the BJP, Amit Shah and Narendra Modi have much to hide. It is also churlish and gravely irresponsible for the BJP to link an ongoing criminal investigation involving the killing of three human beings and the Prime Minister's invitation for lunch. By this, the BJP rejects, in a totally unconnected matter, the spirit of cooperation and constructive collaboration with which the Congress led UPA government, through no less than the Prime Minister of the country, reached out to them to create conducive conditions for attaining the full potential of the next Parliamentary session starting shortly. This is nothing but a desperate and mischievous attempt to link chalk and cheese for entirely selfish and self centered ulterior motives of the BJP and to defend a few of their so called leaders despite their indefensible actions. It is therefore a deliberate attempt to shield and protect the accused in an on-going apex court initiated criminal investigation as it nears completion.

In one word, it is DEPLORABLE.




Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC