Press Briefing Friday, 04 May 2009

Dr. Veerappa Moily addressed the media today.



Dr. Veerappa Moily said that after the 3rd phase of poll, the Congress party is now poised to win and lead the UPA Government once again. He added that in the next two phases, there are 85 seats mainly Rajasthan - 25 seats; UP – 18 seats; West Bengal – 17 seats and so on. As far as the 5th phase is concerned, we have TN – 39 seats, UP 14 seats, West Bengal 11 seats and so on where the BJP has no substantial presence. He further said that the BJP would not reach their 2004 tally. As far as Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi are concerned, the Congress party is very comfortably placed. In Rajasthan the result of 2008 assembly elections will not only be repeated but the Congress party will improve its position. He added that the Congress party has an agenda of development with the inclusive growth.

Dr. Veerappa Moily said that the nation wide skill development initiative by the Congress Party would bring the youth and unemployed to the main stream of national life and there was no scope for BJP or Sangh Parivar to attract the youth. Dr. Veerappa Moily said that the Congress party has a youth icon in Shri Rahul Gandhi who is not hungry for power. This kind of selflessness cannot be seen in any other political party whereas the BJP has a youth face in Varun Gandhi, who in contrast to Shri Rahul Gandhi’s constructive agenda only reflects a destructive agenda. Dr. Veerappa Moily said that the Congress was the only political party with right kind of leadership, vision, unwavering commitment to lead India on the path of stability, prosperity and inclusive development. This kind of a national canvas has not been provided by any other political party he added.

Dr. Veerappa Moily further added that the Congress led UPA Government has achieved a GDP growth of more than 8% for 3 consecutive years, industrial growth of 8.9% and service industry grew at 10.3%. Even on employment side, there is a rise in the growth from 3% to 4.5% during the last five years of UPA regime. This was apart from the employment provided under NREGA scheme. Insofar as inflation is concerned, steel and edible oil prices have also come down. The Congress party has successfully met the challenges of the social sector, political sector and also the challenges of the fiscal sector. Minimum support price for wheat has been raised by 50%, paddy 33% from that of the NDA regime. Credit to the farmers was increased to 2.4 lakh crores which is the highest ever percentage-wise and figure-wise increase. More than 65,000 crores rupees of farm loans have been waived. Rural development has been increased by 236%.

Dr. Veerappa Moily said that the BJP was on a selling spree with regard to public sector industries. It is the Congress Party that has revived the public sector. Not a single public sector industry was sold and as a result, employment opportunities were secured. The Congress party has not disinvested any public sector enterprise whereas the BJP had a Disinvestment Ministry. He said that the UPA government has added 20% more as far as power capacity is concerned and 64% more investment in power sector. This trend is true for the infrastructure sector as well. Dr. Veerappa Moily said that the BJP led NDA Government was making a distinction between the BJP ruled and Congress States as far grant of funds were concerned whereas the Congress party did not differentiate between the BJP ruled States and the Congress ruled States.

To a question over the prevailing situation in Nepal, Dr. Veerappa Moily said that the Congress Party was greatly concerned over the developments in Nepal. He said that the Congress party does not want the democratization or the constitutional process to fail in Nepal. The Congress Party was interested in the stability of Nepal. Democratic process is the only solution for stability and prosperity of Nepal. However Dr. Veerappa Moily reminded that this was Nepal’s internal matter and it would not be appropriate to pass value judgments on the actions of the Government of Nepal. That was the prerogative of the people of Nepal and the coalition partners he added.

To another question in relation to Sheila Dikshit making a statement on JD (U) leader Shri Nitish Kumar, Dr. Veerappa Moily said that she was only suggesting something and it did not mean that the Congress Party had taken a decision on that front.

To a question over the situation in Sri Lanka, Dr. Veerappa Moily said that with regard to the Sri Lankan Tamil civilians, the Congress has always stood for them. This is why the party had been in constant touch with the Sri Lankan Government and recently the Prime Minister had also deputed Shri M.K. Narayanan, National Security Advisor and Foreign Secretary immediately. He added that the Prime Minister was equally concerned for all Indians and ethnic groups that share a cultural heritage with India.

To another question of Samajwadi party making a statement that the Congress party was making a mistake by criticizing Kalyan Singh, Dr. Veerappa Moily said that Kalyan Singh had given an affidavit to the Supreme Court saying he would protect the Babri mosque from demolition but failed to honour it and hence the Congress party was opposed to him.

On another question, Dr. Veerappa Moily remarked that Kalyan Singh is bound to create ripples in all the fronts and not just the Fourth Front.

To a question, Dr. Veerappa Moily said that the entire world knows whether the condition of Muslims is better in Gujarat with comparison to the rest of the country or not and that he needn’t say anything on this.

On the question of Shri Digvijay Singh’s statement, Dr. Veerappa Moily said that Mr. Karan Thappar had asked a hypothetical question to which Digvijay Singh gave a hypothetical answer. He expressed confidence that the Congress party would come back to power and will be the single largest party and would form the next Government at the Centre.





(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC