Press Briefing Friday, 27th Mar 2009

Shri Anand Sharma addressed the media today.

Shri Anand Sharma said that there are many issues before the country which are discussed and debated during the elections. We have articulated our position of policy priorities when the Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi released the manifesto along with Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the country. In the last years, our performance speaks for itself. We have been steadfast in the face of challenges giving directions both to policy and governance in ensuring that our policies fulfilled the commitments that we have made to our people especially to our farmers, to our youth, to the weaker sections of the society bringing about a silent transformation without making tall claims and that transformation is visible. India today needs a political vision and a leadership which has respect for India.s heritage which is identified with the people which has the ability to carry all the people along.

Shri Anand Sharma said that in these tough times when there are many challenges in our region and before the world including the challenges of financial crisis, it is only a Government, which has Dr. Manmohan Singh as its Prime Minister, has the capacity and the vision to address it. So that is pride for us that it is Dr. Manmohan Singh whose vision and advice is actually sought by leaders across the world. There is yet another point that Congress is the only party which was a Pan Indian presence and the party which unites. Our principal opponent, Bhartiya Janata Party, may have delusions but it is a party which divides. It is the party which creates conflicts. Its leader who is projected by them to head a Government, which we are confident is never going to happen. Shri Sharma said the BJP has a mind set which is frozen in the history of an ideology which is in direct conflict with India.s ethos, our pluralistic character and constitutional democracy. Whenever they have been in Government, they have inflicted hate in our society both at the Central and in every province where they have been in Government - be it Gujarat, Karnataka or Orissa.

Shri Sharma said that today India needs not only internal stability but also internal unity so that we can sustain our growth and development and ensure a better future for the people of our country. This Government has an excellent record of performance and we are, therefore, very confident that the confidence of the people of India will be reposed in the Indian National Congress much more forcefully than even in 2004.

To the question of prospects of the Left parties in the post-poll scenario, Shri Sharma said that the Left Front is badly bruised and they themselves have admitted to that. Where is the Left Front going today and for that matter their desperate attempts to create a votary group or the Third Front would collapse because that also is afflicted with a very serious disease that is of negativity, coming together of individuals with inflated egos and high aspirations, parties with conflicting ideologies, who cannot withstand both cohesion and sincerity, will be rejected. As far as we are concerned, in the current political context, they are not relevant and their irrelevance will be confirmed once the elections are over.

To another question of lack of confidence of the allies in the Congress, Shri Sharma that he does not think that they have expressed any lack of confidence. This is electoral politics and in electoral politics, political parties take their own position. As far as the Congress Party is concerned, we have made it clear that we will have alliances which would be State specific. Sometimes when there is disagreement, even our allies have reaffirmed their respect and faith in the Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi as well as Dr. Manmohan Singh. During last elections also, we had alliance which was State specific and UPA Government was formed through post-poll alliance and that will get adequately addressed once the elections are over. Our confidence is based on ground realities, proven track record and commitment to our people which is acknowledged and respected.

To the statement of Shri Advani that Dr. Manmohan Singh is a weak Prime Minister and taking orders from 10 Janpath, Shri Sharma said that it is unwarranted and unfair. The BJP seems to be better informed about the functioning of the UPA Government and the Prime Minister. We do not expect them to be charitable. Shri Sharma said that the BJP should remember, particularly Shri L. K. Advani, that when NDA was in power, there were many centers of power. It is important to recall that RSS leadership going to 7 RCR, sitting in all important meetings and coming out and addressing the media right at the PM.s residence to inform about the decisions taken. When there were divisions or differences it was again a common sight of the senior Ministers including the then Deputy PM and Home Minister rushing to RSS Headquarters in Delhi at Jhandewalan.

Shri Sharma said that here in our Government there is a healthy working relationship between the Chairperson of the UPA and the Prime Minister of the country. Mrs. Gandhi chairs the meeting of the UPA and in that capacity she is consulted. We do not have a remote control for entities living far away not directly connected either with the party or with the Government.

To another question of whether the Congress Party will demand the arrest of Shri Varun Gandhi in the wake of anticipatory bail petition having lapsed, Shri Sharma said that it is for the Law to take its own course and the judiciary does what they should do.

To another question of staging of IPL matches in South Africa, Shri Sharma said that IPL is neither a national cricket tournament nor an Olympics. It is also not a cricket tournament conducted either by ICC or BCCI. This issue should not have been raised because every body knew that elections are going to be held. Home Minister has already issued a statement in this regard.

To the statement of Shri Advani daring Dr. Manmohan Singh, PM for a debate, Shri Sharma said that Shri Advani has been a PM in-waiting for long. He appears to be in a hurry to occupy an office which will elude him in his life time and it would be good fortune of this country. Shri Sharma said that Shri Advani is a senior and seasoned political leader who has spent half a century in Indian politics. He has forgotten that what a parliamentary system is, issues are debated between the political parties; issues will be debated between the leaders and candidates in every constituency in every State but where a parliamentary democracy is there, there is never a debate which takes place in a Presidential system. Shri Sharma said that Shri Advani Ji is still carrying forward the debates which he may have seen during the US Presidential elections but for a leader of his standing, who has participated in many elections, it is an interesting and a new revelation he ought to answer why he forgot about this need for all these years.

On the question of the Congress Party being soft on terrorism, Shri Sharma said that the BJP can make any claims because they are not coming to power. As far as the Congress-led UPA Government is concerned, it has followed a foreign policy which has been firm, effective and has upheld India.s supreme national interest. We have been firm on terrorism. The Congress Party knows the pain and the wounds which terrorism inflicts. Shri Sharma said that the Congress party has paid, along with this country, a heavy price. Our leaders have been victims of terrorism and violence. Smt. Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister fell a victim to the forces of terror and so then our beloved leader Shri Rajiv Gandhi. The Congress has never been soft on terrorism. Shri Sharma further said that the Congress Party has always been firm and clear how to deal with the forces of terror. Shri Sharma said that he may be allowed to add here that only a political leadership and a philosophy which keeps the people of India united can fight the terrorism. Shri Sharma said that the party which divides and creates hatred, conflict and weakens the country internally can never be effective in fighting the menace of terrorism.

Tom Vadakkan

Secretary, AICC