Press Briefing Monday, 29 June 2009

Dr. Shakeel Ahmed addressed the media today.


Dr. Shakeel Ahmed said that recent media reports suggested that minorities in Pakistan especially Hindus and Sikhs were being forced to pay Jaziya (religious tax) by the Taliban in Pakistan and the Congress party condemns this and requests the central government to discuss this issue with the Pakistani authorities. He said that while he realized that this was Pakistan’s internal affair, this was also a humanitarian issue and was concerned with minority rights and hence the Pakistani government must put an end to this illegal tax.

To a question on Mayawati and her statue-building spree, Dr. Shakeel Ahmed said that the Finance Minister has already stated that the money spent on building statues could have been put to better use for the poor. He said that while there was nothing wrong in building memorials for great people, going overboard with it was unacceptable. He added that the money meant for the betterment of the downtrodden and poor was being spent on building these statues, which was incorrect.

To a question on the fate of Section 377 and gay rights, Dr. Shakeel Ahmed said that the government was discussing this issue. He said that the debate on this issue was also on within the party. He said that it has already been clarified that the government will discuss the issue with religious and social leaders and take a decision thereafter.

To a question on Raj Thakeray, Dr. Shakeel Ahmed said that there was no politics involved in Raj Thakeray being granted bail and the Congress party had nothing to do with this and this was a legal issue.

To a question on the Congress party’s line on education and Shri Kapil Sibal’s statements in this regard, Dr. Shakeel Ahmed said that right now no final decision had been taken and discussions were on with educationists, teachers, academicians etc. Therefore the Congress party reserves its comments on this for now.

To a question on what prompted the Congress President to send a letter attached with a detailed draft legislation to the PM pressing on food security and whether it indicated a communication gap between the Congress party and the government, Dr. Shakeel Ahmed said that there was no communication gap. He said that the government was a UPA government which consists of many parties and so the stance of the government and the Congress party on certain matters was different but on this issue the stance of both was the same. He said that it was not unusual for the UPA Chairperson to send this letter as it was necessary for the PM to discuss this issue with his cabinet colleagues who are not members of the Congress party.





(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC