Press
Briefing Monday, 31st May 2010
Smt.
Jayanthi Natarajan addressed the media today.
On the question of the reaction of the Congress Party
over the statement of Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy in Delhi
that whatever he has done is right, Smt. Natarajan said
that the party has already taken cognizance of the
matter and whatever interaction needs to happen will
happen with the General Secretary In-Charge Mr. Moily
and the High Command.
On the question whether the Congress Party considers
this as an act of indiscipline, Smt. Natarajan said that
whatever interaction is happening, the High Command is
already aware of the matter, is seized of the matter and
whatever needs to be done, the General Secretary
In-Charge will take suitable action.
On the question of the reaction of the Congress Party
over the statement of Mr. Jagan Mohan that he will
continue with his yatra despite party directing him not
to continue with the same, Smt. Natarajan said whatever
I saw was that he is going to request the High Command
but as I said the same answer, the matter is under the
consideration of the leadership. I am not going to
comment upon minute to minute basis. You will come to
know whatever happens.
On the question of the effect of Mr. Jagan Mohan’s
actions and his statement, Smt. Natarajan said that
these things keep happening. He has certain perceptions.
As I said the matter is under cognizance. The Congress
Party has been here for more than 100 years and is not
going to be weakened by any particular individual.
Whatever interaction is going on, the developments
resulting from that interaction will soon be in the
public domain. The party is above and beyond any
individual.
On the question of any pact of DMK with PMK, Smt.
Natarajan said I am personally not aware of it but I am
very sure that the consultations between the Congress
leadership and the DMK leadership are regular and an
on-going basis.
On the question of situation in Jharkhand, Smt.
Natarajan said that we have been waiting and watching.
The Congress Party has never been in hurry. We want what
is in the best interest of the people of Jharkhand. We
are waiting and watching the constitutional situation
which has developed and depending upon the report which
has been sent by the Governor, the Congress Party will
form its view. The situation is very fluid there, the
stability of the Government in Jharkhand and capacity of
any Government to deliver good governance.
On the question whether it is because of the security
reasons that Queen Elizabeth is not attending the
Commonwealth Games, Smt. Natarajan said that I do not
believe it is a reflection on the security situation in
the country as such. It is the sovereign right of any
sovereign Government to take a decision regarding their
own programme and according to the statement released by
the British High Commission; it was because of her busy
schedule.
On the question of opposition now alleging that
Constitution of the National Advisory Council is
politically motivated, Smt. Natarajan said that the job
of the opposition is to oppose. So I do not believe that
there is any merit in attributing personal motives to
those who have been appointed to the National Advisory
Committee. Those who have so far been appointed, to us,
it appears that they have the highest credentials
regarding the work they have done, regarding their
expertise and regarding their commitment to the various
fields in which they are experts.
On the question of Mr. Jagan Mohan’s complaint against
CM to the Governor of Andhra Pradesh against his own
Government, Smt. Natarajan said that I have no idea of
his meeting with the Governor or the contents of the
meeting.
On the question of line of the Congress Party on
Jhargram incident, Smt. Natarajan said that today the
Home Minister has said that the needle of suspicion
points to the CPI (Maoists) or a frontal organization.
The stand of the Congress Party is that we should wait
for the result of the investigation.
Tom Vadakkan
Secretary, AICC
