Press
Briefing Wednesday, 31st March 2010
Smt.
Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media today.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan said that she wanted to express
the growing concern of the Congress Party over the
attacks upon Indian ship, particularly the latest with
97 Indian sailors being captured by the Somali pirates.
The Government has already initiated action and they
have taken steps to ensure that our smaller ships and
boats are warned sufficiently not to ply in those waters
and about the steps to ensure the whereabouts and to
secure the release of our captured Indian sailors. But
as this is the problem that continues, we would
therefore, call upon our Government to take specific
steps to ensure the safety of Indian sailors. Sometimes
they are on foreign vessels also but evolve a mechanism
by which we can be kept abreast of their whereabouts and
their safety; as this is a very important and
complicated issue especially when Indians are serving on
foreign ships. We are requesting the Government,
although the steps have already been initiated, to take
an in-depth view of the matter and evolve multi-tier
system to ensure the safety of our sailors.
To a question on the pressure built by the ABVP – the
student wing of the BJP - to take action against the
Vice-Chancellor of Indore University over the visit of
Shri Rahul Gandhi in January and the reaction of the
Congress party over the same; Smt. Natarajan said that
the fact of the matter is that it is very unfortunate
that some steps were taken by the Madhya Pradesh
Government through the Governor and there was some
activity on this matter. The Government has created an
atmosphere where it was not conducive for the
Vice-Chancellor to continue. There were absolutely no
acts of omission and commission, as far as we are aware,
upon his part and the mere fact that a youth icon such
as Shri Rahul Gandhi visited the students has created a
backlash which is being done by the State Government.
This is extremely unfortunate, narrow minded and
intolerant on the part of the State Government.
To the questions related with Shri Amitabh Bachchan and
whether Smt. Sonia Gandhi has asked the Congress Party
not to attack Shri Amitabh Bachchan and NCP’s invitation
to Shri Bachchan and Shri Narender Modi to attend a
function in Sangli, Smt. Natarajan said the fact that
the NCP has invited Shri Bachchan to Sangli is purely a
matter between both of them. The Congress Party has no
comment on that at all. Smt. Natarajan further added
that whatever has been said on that issue, she has
nothing further to add to that.
To a further related question over the statement of the
BJP that the comparison of Modi with Dawood is
unfortunate, Smt. Natarajan said that the BJP is a
fascist party and the reference to Dawood Ibrahim was
only in this context that the way the Chief Minister of
Gujarat publicized his complying with the law was
totally unacceptable - that first of all any citizen is
expected to comply with the law. There is nothing
unusual or very self-congratulatory in complying with
the law. This is only a civic and constitutional duty
and the second that as a matter of fact that the Chief
Minister should reflect upon the fact that this is for
the first time in Indian history that a Chief Minister
is being called to answer for a very heinous crime
before the special investigation team. That is the
context that certain remark was made.
On the question of any dilution over the Women’s
Reservation Bill, Smt. Natarajan said that the Congress
party has said that we stand by the Bill as was passed
in the Rajya Sabha. Even among allies, there are certain
views but those who oppose the bill have very strong
views. Our efforts to convince everybody to come on
board will continue but we are committed to the Women’s
Reservation Bill as it has been passed in the Rajya
Sabha.
To a question on the fresh incidents of violence on
Telengana issue in Andhra Pradesh, Smt. Natarajan said
that the Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh is taking
all steps to bring the situation under control.
Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC
